UC-NRLF 


"        o 
B  E  r  K  E  I  E  Y 

LIBRARY 


UNIVERSITY  OP 


LIBH. 


IRVING'S  COLUMBUS. 

ABRIDGED  BY  HIMSELF. 


STATE  OF  NEW  YORK,  > 
SECRETARY'S  OFFICE.       $ 

,  ALBANY,  SOrii  MAY,  1833. 

To  the  Trustees  of  the  several  School  District*  in  t)*is  state. 

The  Legislature,  nt  thoir  late  session,  adopted  the  following  Resolutions* 
which,  in  obedience  to  the  direction  contained  in  them,  are  communicated 
for  your  information. 

STATE  OF  NEW  YORK.  ) 

IN  SENATK,  ..fyrj*  '«;<>,  1K*3.    \ 

Resolved  (If  the  Assembly  concur,)  That,  in  the  opinion  of  tlm  Legis 
lature,  the  work  entitled  "  'I  ho  life  and  Voyages  of  Christopher  Columbus, 
by  Washington  Irving,  abridged  by  the  sain*1.."  from  tin;  national  charac 
ter  of  the  subject.,  the  fidelity  and  interest  of  the  narrative,  and  the  purity 
tnd  elegance*  of  the  stylo,  is  eminently  fit  to  be  used  as  a  class  hook  in  the 
Common  Schools  of  this  State;  and  it  is  hereby  recommended  to  the 
trustees  of  the  several  school  districts  to  take  the  necessary  measures  to 
introduce  tne  same  into  the  schools  under  their  charge  with  as  little  delay 
as  circumstances  may  permit. 

Resolved  (If  the  Assembly  concur,)  That  the  Secretary  of  State,  as 
Superintendent  of  Common  Schools,  be,  and  he  is  hereby  directed,  to  ad  Iress 
a  circular  letter  to  the  trustees  of  the  several  school  districts  within  this 
State,  enclosing  a  certified  copy  of  the  preceding  Resolution,  and  sup 
porting  the  propriety  of  the  recommendation  therein  contained,  with  such 
observations  as  he  may  deem  proper. 
By  Order, 

JOHN  F.  BACON,  Citric  of  the  Senate. 

STATE  OF  NEW  YORK,  ) 
IN  ASSEMBLY,  jtyrd  2«),  1KB.  s 

Resolved,  That  this  House  do  concur  with  the  Senate  in  their  said  Re 
solutions. 

By  Order, 

FRANCIS  SEGER,  Clerk  of  the 


The  adoption  of  these  Resolutions  constitutes  the  first  exception  t"  the 
established  policy  of  the  Legislature  in  abstaining  from  nil  interiert  nco, 
so  far  as  the  selection  of  books  is  concerned,  with  the  course  of  instru  lion- 
pursued  in  the  Common  Schools.  Numerous  applications  had  firoir  lime 
to  time  been  made  to  procure  a  Legislative  sanction  for  particular  boo';s, 
but  uniformly  without  success.  The  departure  in  this  instance  from  a 


be  has  conferred  on  his  native  State  by. ho  production?  of  nis  genius, 
,  we  considered  as  presenting  a  fit  occasion  for  relaxing  tile  rule  ;  and,  is 


2  IRVINO'S  COLUMBUS. 

eo  doing,  it  was  believed  that  the  precedent  could  not  well  be  imitated 
since  the  same  circumstance  would  not  again  be  likely  to  occur. 

Mr.  IrviHg  was  among  tho  first  of  the  natives  of  this  State  who  have 
devoted  themselves  to  the  pursuits  of  literature.  He  commenced  his 
career  as  an  author,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  at  a  time  when  the  impulses 
to  literary  distinction  found  little  encouragement  in  the  prevailing  spirit 
of  enterprise,  and  tlie  busy  habits  of  society.  The  character  of  the 
country  was  essentiully  commercial ;  and  neither  wealth  nor  leisure  was 
lent,  in  any  considerable  degree,  to  the  cultivation  of  letters.  Notwith 
standing  these  unpropitious  circumstances,  his  earliest  productions  excited 
a  general  interest  among  his  countrymen,  through  the  same  originality  of 
thought  and  beauty  of  expression  which  so  eminently  distinguish  his  later 
works,  and  which  command  the  admiration  of  a  1  who  are  familiar  with 
our  language  and  literature.  In  a  word,  it  may  bo  said,  without  injustice 
to  any  of  his  ootemporaries,  that  no  native  of  the  United  States  has  con 
tributed  in  a  greater  degree  to  rescue  our  literary  character  from  reproach, 
bj  extorting,  even  from  the  harsh  awards  of  European  criticism,  unquali 
fied  testimonials  of  praise. 

Thn  "  Life  and  Vovages  of  Columbus"  were  written  under  circum 
stances  well  calculated'  to  secure  what  the  author  is  universally  admitted 
to  huve  attained — fidelity  in  historical  detail,  and  in  delineations  both  of 
national  and  individual  character.  Unwilling  to  trust  to  the  narratives, 
for  the  most,  part  contradictory  and  ill  authenticated,  in  which  the  history 
of  the  discovery  had  been  transmitted  to  our  own  times,  Mr.  Irving  repair 
ed  to  MaJrid,  and  sought  the  materials  for  his  work  in  the  archives  ot  that 
ancient  city.  He  consulted  the  most  authentic  sources  of  intelligence 
with  regard  to  the  man  of  whose  character  and  actions  it  was  to  treat,  and 
with  regard  to  the  country  and  the  age  with  which  he  is  identified  :  and  he 
composed  it  amid  the  living  memorials  of  ancient  Spain,  with  the  records 
of  her  chivalry,  her  power,  and  her  magnificence  before  him.  He  has  pre 
sented  the  conflicts  of  the  discoverer  with  the  prejudices  of  the  Old  World, 
and  with  the  seductions  and  perils  of  the  New,  the  glorious  triumph  of  his 
great  enterprise,  and  the  termination  of  his  career  amid  the  visitations  of 
neglect  and  ingratitude,  in  a  strain  of  chaste  and  eloquent  diction,  unsur 
passed,  if  not  unequalled,  by  any  work  of  the  present  day  :  and  he  has  im 
bued  it  deeply  with  a  pure  and  high-toned  morality. 

The  abridgment,  which  the  Legislature  have  recommended  in  the  fore 
going  Resolutions  to  be  used  in  the  Common  SchooL  as  a  class-book,  pos 
sesses  oH  the  characteristic  merits  of  the  original  work,  although,  rn  a 
composition  so  full  of  beauties,  many  have  necessarily  been  lost  in  com 
pressing  it  into  a  narrower  compass :  and  the  Superintendent  does  not 
hesitate  to  say,  that  he  knows  no  work  better  suited  to  be  introduced  into 
tk»  Common  Schools  for  the  use  of  the  higher  classes.  Independently  of  the 
unblemished  purity  of  its  style  and  thought,  it  exhibits  in  a  minute  detail, 
with  which  all  should  be  familiar,  the  discovery  and  first  settlement  by 
civilized  men  of  tne  continent  in  which  our  own  country  occupies  so  con 
spicuous  a  place — a  continent  destined,  perhaps,  at  no  distant  d  /, 
through  the  influence  of  the  free  institutions  which  have  taken  root  among 
us,  to  change  the  political  character  of  the  Old  World,  by  pouring  into  it, 
in  streams  far  more  precious  than  the  fountains  of  wealth  which  were 
opened  by  the  discovery,  the  treasures  of  an  enlightened  and  practical 
freedom. 

JOHN  A.  DIX,  Superintendent  Common  Schools. 

[.Extract  from  the  Report  of  the  Committee  o/  the  Assembly  on  Colleges, 
Jlcalcmies,  and  Common  Schools.] 

"  Your  Committe3  are  persuaded  that  the  passage  of  ine  resolutions  ii* 
question  will  have  a  direct  tendency  to  raise  the  standard  of  education  in 
the  common  scJioois  of  the  State,  and  will,  at  the  same  time,  be  applaud 
ed  throughout  the  Union  as  a  most  appropriate  tribute  on  the  part  of  this 


IRVING  8  COLUMBUS. 


State  to  the  eminent  genius  and  meritorious  labours  of  one  of  our  native 
citizens.  Your  Committee,  therefore,  have  no  hesitation  in  advising  that 
this  House  concur  with  the  Senate. 

"  It  is  unnecessary  that  your  Committee  should  dwell  on  the  superior 
merits,  as  a  literary  production,  of  Washington  living's  'Life  and  Voyages 
of  Columbus;'  it  has  already  received  the  stamp  of  public  approbation. 
not  only  in  this  country,  but  in  every  part  of  the  civilized  world  where 
English  and  American  literature  is  known  and  valued.  Some  years  of 
tho  life  of  the  author  were  devoted  to  the  preparation  of  the  won  ;  and, 
by  a  irost  assiduous  study  of  original  and  unpublished  documents,  which, 
by  his  personal  researches,  he  discovered  in  the  libraries  of  Spain,  he  has 
been  enabled  to  correct  the  errors  and  supply  the  defects  of  preceding 
writers.  The  production  is  worthy  of  the  time  arid  labour  that  it  cost.  In 
the  accuracy  and  fulness  of  its  narrative,  the  beauty  of  its  varied  illustra 
tions,  and  the  purity  and  vigour  of  its  style,  it  is  universally  admitted  to 
surpass  all  other  works  on  the  same  subject;  and  your  Committee  are 
assured  that  they  but  repeat  the  opinion  of  all  competent  judges  in  pro 
nouncing  it  the  most  valuable  contribution  that  has  yet  been  made  to  the 
rising  literature  of  our  country. 

"  The  abridgment  of  tl?:s  masterly  work  by  the  author  preserves  in  a 
great  measure  the  excellences  of  the  original  :  the  style  is  equally  anima 
ted,  correct,  and  flowing  ;  and,  while  the  substance  of  the  narrative  is 
retained,  the  interest  is  rather  enhanced  than  weakened  by  the  comprese  d 
form  in  which  the  facts  are  given.  Its  peculiar  adaptation  to  the  use  of 
common  schools  will  not  be  denied  by  any  who  have  perused  the  work, 
and  are  competent  to  appreciate  its  extraordinary  merits." 

The  ollowing  notices  of  this  abridgment  were  extracted  from  various 
newspapers  within  a  fortnight  after  the  publication  of  the  work. 

From  the  JVezc  York  Evening  Post :  June,  1829. 


From  the  JVew  York  Daily  Advertiser  :  June,  182J. 

u  From  what  we  have  been  able  to  read,  we  have  reason  to  believe  that 
the  ?iear,  chaste,  and  beautiful  style  peculiar  to  our  distinguished  coun 
tryman  will  be  found  to  be  preserved,  much  to  the  ornament  and  value  of 
the  work ;  and  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  most  persona  will  rise  from  the 
perusal  of  the  abridgment  with  a  more  clear  acquaintance  with  the  life, 
character,  and  discoveries  of  the  great  navigator,  as  time  is  not  given  for 
the  interest  to  flag.  To  schools,  and  to  youth,  this  volume  will  be  par 
ticularly  acceptable."  , 

From  the  JV*e/o  York  American :  June,  1829. 

i{  We  hope  this  book  may  become  a  standard  one  in  every  school  in  OUT 
country ;  and  thus  that  the  history  of  the  first  d:scovery  of  this  continent — 
the  most  magnificent  result  of  enduring  courage  and  noble  selr'-relianco 
that  ever  rewarded  the  efforts  of  man—  -may,  in  all  time  hereafter,  be 
taught  to  its  inhabitants  through  the  glowing  pages  of  an  America!. 


4  IRVING  8  COLUMBUS. 

From  the  New  York  Mercantile  Advertiser :  June,  1829. 

"  It  is  precisely  such  a  book  as  should  bo  put  into  the  bane's  of  the 
young  :  there  is  a  vigour  in  it«  style  that  never  flags,  and  an  attraction 
that  it  not  weakened  by  a  reporusal ;  added  to  which,  there  is  a  vein  of 
moral  sentiment  pervading  it  \vhich  must  commend  it  to  every  instructor.*' 

From  the  Boston  Courier :  June,  1829. 

"  This  work  has  been  prepared  for  the  press  by  the  author  himself,  and 
may  therefore  be  considered  us,  in  some  degree,  an  original  work.  It 
ought  to  be  adopted  as  a  class-book  in  academies,  where  it  would  not 
only  be  useful  and  entertaining  as  a  piece  of  important  history,  but  might 
be  adopted  KS  a  specimen  of  rlegant.  composition,  and  worthy  of  the  imi 
tation  of  students  who  need  an  elegant  ami  fascinating  example  of  style." 

From  the  New  York  Albion :  June,  1829. 

"It  is  quite  remarkaMn  to  observe  how  fully  the  spirit  of  the  origina* 
work  is  embodied  in  the  abridgment  Every  fact  of  importance  is  pre 
served,  and  t!:ere  is  no  risk  in  asserting,  that  as  a  school-book,  there  it 
nothing  extant  that  so  correctly,  and,  at  the  same  time,  so  beautifully  pro* 
acute  to  the  youthful  mind  the  tab  of  the  fate  and  fortunes  of  the  great 
Cfrfumbus." 

From  the  Philadelphia  National  Gazette  :  June,  1829. 

' "  Mr.  Irving  has  done  justice  to  his  great  work  in  this  elegant  nnd  auf- 
fici^it  compcud  ;  and  no  one  but  the  author  could  have  accompli*  hed  the 
task  so  happily  in  all  respects.  Wo  feel  entitled  anJ  bound  to  recom 
mend  it  to  teachers  of  youth  as  a  work  eminently  fit  to  be  read  in  schools. 
For  that  use  it  possesses  all  the  specific  merits, — comparative  brevity, 
romantic  interest,  beauty  of  diction,  and  valuable  or  neeetsaiy  infor 
mation." 


From  the  New  England  Galaxy  :  June.  1829. 

"  In  its  present  form,  this  work  canr.ot  fail  to  become  popular,  in  the 
strictest  sense  of  the  word.  It  is  not  so  large  but  that  all  may  rea«'  it,  and 
its  literary  excellence  is  of  so  high  a  character,  and  the  interest  attached 
to  the  subject  is  so  commanding,  that  all  will  read  It  with  delight.  In  this 
abridgment  nothing  of  the  spirit  of  an  original  is  wanting  :  while  no  mate 
rial  facts  are  omit'ed,  the  story  is  condensed  ;  it  is  less  philosophical,  but 
more  animated  ;  and  the  style,  though  less  elaborate,  is  perhaps  more 
vivacious  and  attractive. 

"  We  think  we  have  heard,  or  seen  stated  somewhere,  that  Mr.  Irving 
in  this  abridgment  aimed  at  making  a  work  proper  to  bo  used  in  schools. 
It  is  certainly  remarkably  well  adapted  to  that  use.  Some  of  the  principal 
schools  in  New  York  have  adopted  it,  and  we  hope  their  example  will  be 
folio- ved.  The  subject  of  this  work,  and  the  admirable  manner  in  which 
it  is  treated,  alike  recommend  it,  and  the  sizo  aud  price  now  form  no 
objection." 


Columbus  before  the  King  and  Queen. 


THE 


LIFE  AND  VOYAGES 


CHRISTOPHER  COLUMBUS, 

JOHN  S.  PR  ELL 

Qtil  &  Mechanical  Engineer. 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 


WASHINGTON   IRVlNt*. 


ABRIDGED  AND  ARRANGED  BY  THE  AUTHOR,  EXPRESSLY  FOR  THE  USE 
OF   SCHOOLS. 


NEW  YORK : 

COLLINS,  KEESE  &  CO.,  254  PEARL  STREET, 

W.  E.  DEAN,  PRINTER. 
1838. 


.£  MHOt 


-  Jj*>f^>Wp5J  areor<;fing4p|aqjppf  ^pn^tcss^  ihe^y'e^rpn.e  thousand 
ciglil  wind  red  aifid  tliirty-fouV,  i>y  Washington  Irving,  in1  the 
Clerk's  office  of  tlve  Southern  Di§uict  of  New-  York. 


, 

(STPT 


t  III 

I"? 


EDUC 
ilBRARY 


INTRODUCTION. 


1.  WHETHER  in  old  times  beyond  the  reach  of  history 
or  tradition,  there  existed  an  intercourse  between  the  op 
posite   shores   of  the    Atlantic;    whether    the    Egyptian 
legend  concerning  the  island  of  Atalantis  was  indeed  no 
fable,  and  that  such  country  did   actually  exist,  and  was 
swallowed  up  by  some  mighty  convulsion  of  our  globe, 
must  ever  remain  matters  of  mere  speculation. 

2.  Certain  it  is,  that  at  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth 
century,    nothing   was  known  of  lands   in   the   western 
hemisphere.     It  is  true,  that  articles  had  floated  from  time 
to  time  to  the  shores  of  the  old  world,  giving  indications 
to   its  wondering   inhabitants  of  land   in    the   west,  far 
beyond  their  watery  horizon,  yet  no  one  ventured  to  spread 
a  sail  in  quest  of  it. 

3.  The  vast  waters  of  the  Atlantic  were  regarded  with 
mysterious  awe,   seeming  to  bound  the  world  as  with  a 
chaos  into  which  conjecture  could  not  penetrate,  and  en- 
terprise  feared  to  adventure. 

4.  "  The  ocean,"    observes   an  eminent   Arabian    geo 
grapher  of  the  time,  •*  encircles  the  ultimate  bounds  of  the 
inhabited  earth,  and  all  beyond  it  is  unknown.     No  one 
has  been   able  to  verify  any  thing  concerning  it,  on  ac 
count  of  its  difficult  and  perilous  navigation,  its  great  ob. 


IV  INTRODUCTION. 

scurity,  its  profound  depth,  and  frequent  tempests ;  through 
fear  of  its  mighty  fishes,  and  its  haughty  winds  ;  yet  there 
are  many  islands  in  it,  some  of  which  are  peopled,  and 
others  uninhabited. 

5.  There   is    no   mariner  who  dares  to  enter  into  its 
deep  waters  ;  or  if  any  have  done  so,  they  have    merely 
kept  along  its  coast,  fearful  of  departing  from  them.     The 
waves  of  this  ocean,  although  they  roll  as  high  as  moun 
tains,  yet  maintain  themselves  without  breaking  ;  for  if 
they  broke,  it  would  be  impossible  for  a  ship  to  plough 
them." 

6.  It  is  the  object  of  the  following  work  to  relate  the 
deeds  and  fortunes  of  the  mariner  who  first  had  the  judg 
ment  to  divine,  and  the  intrepidity  to  brave,  the  mysteries 
of  this  perilous  deep  ;  and  who,  by  his  hardy  genius,  his 
inflexible  constancy,  and  his  heroic  courage,  brought  the 
ends  of  the  earth  into  communication  with  each  other. 
The  narrative  of  his  troubled  life  is  the  link  which  connects 
the  history  of  the  old  world  with  that  of  the  new. 


CHAPTER  1. 

Birth,  parentage,  education,  and  early  life  of  Columbus. 

1.  CHRISTOPHER  COLUMBUS,  or  Colorabo,  as  the  namo 
is  written  in  Italian,  was  a  native  of  Genoa,  and  born 
about  the  year  1435.     He  was  the  oldest  of  four  children, 
having  two  brothers,  one  named  Bartholomew,  the  other 
Giacomo,  or  Diego  as  it  is  translated  into  Spanish,  and 
one  sister. 

2.  His  father,  Domenico  Colombo,  was  a  wool  comber,  as 
several  of  his  ancestors  had  been  before  him.     Attempts 
have  been  made,  by  those  who  attach  value  to  hereditary 
rank,  to  prove  Columbus  of  illustrious  descent,  and  seve 
ral  noble  families  have  laid  claim  to  him  since  his  name 
has  become  so  renowned  as  to  confer,  rather  than  to  re 
ceive,  distinction.     His  son  Fernando  thought  justly  on 
the  subject.     "  I  am  of  opinion,"  said  he,  "  that  I  should 
derive  less  dignity  from  any  nobility  of  ancestry,  than 
from  being  the  son  of  such  a  father." 

3.  Columbus  evinced  at  a  very  early  age,  a  decided  incli 
nation  for  the  sea.     His  father,  therefore,  endeavoured, 
as  far  as  his  means  afforded,  to  give  him  such  an  educa 
tion  as  would  make  him  a  skilful  navigator.     He  even 
sent  him  to  the  university  of  Pavia,  where  he  studied 
geometry,  geography,  astronomy  and  navigation,  and  the 
Latin  tongue. 

4.  His  father  was  too  poor,  however,  to  keep  him  longer 
at  the  university  than  was  sufficient  to  acquire  the  rudi 
ments  of  the  necessary  sciences.     The  deep  insight  into 
them,  which  he  afterwards  displayed,  was  the  result  of 
experience  and  self  instruction.     Men  of  strong  genius 
derive  an  advantage  from  thus  having,  at  their  very  out 
set,  to  contend  with  poverty  and  privations.     They  learn 
to  depend  upon  themselves,  to  improve  every  casual  ad 
vantage,  and  to  effect  great  ends  by  small  means.     Such 
a  man  was  Columbus.     His  own  energy  and  invention 
supplied  every  deficiency,  and  in  all  his  undertakings, 
the  scantiness  of  his  means  enhanced  the  grandeur  of  his 
achievements. 

5.  His  first  voyage  was  made  shortly  after  leaving  the 


LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

university,  when  he  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age. 
The  seafaring-  life  in  those  days  was  full  of  peril  and  ad 
venture.  The  feuds  between  the  Italian  states,  and  the 
holy  wars  with  the  Mahometan  powers,  filled  the  seas 
with  cruisers  ;  some  fitted  out  by  sovereign  states ;  some 
by  powerful  nobles  ;  and  some  by  desperate  adventurers. 
Piracy  was  almost  legalized ;  even  a  commercial  voyage 
partook  of  a  warlike  character,  and  a  merchant  had  often 
to  fight  his  way  from  port  to  port. 

6.  Such  was  the  rugged  school  in  which  Columbus  was 
first  broken  into  naval  discipline  ;  and  he  had  a  teacher 
as  rugged  as  the  school.  This  was  a  relative  named  Co 
lombo,  a  hardy  old  captain  of  the  seas,  bold  and  adven 
turous,  ready  to  fight  in  any  cause,  and  to  take  up  a 
quarrel  wherever  it  might  lawfully  be  found. 

7.  With  this  veteran  cruiser  Columbus  sailed  several 
years,  and  served  in  a  squadron,  of  which  he  was  admiral, 
fitted  out  in  Genoa  in  1459,  by  John  of  Anjou,  Duke  of 
Calabria,  to  make  a  descent  upon  Naples,  in  the  hope  of 
recovering  that  kingdom  for  his  father,  Renato,  Count 
of  Provence.     In  the  course  of  this  expedition,  Columbus 
was  detached  by  the  old  admiral  on  a  daring  enterprise, 
to  cut  out  a  galley  from  the  port  of  Tunis,  in  which  he 
acquitted  himself  with  great  resolution  and  address. 

8.  For  several  years  afterwards,  he  continued  to  voyage 
in  the  Mediterranean,  and  up  the  Levant.    Sometimes  he 
was  engaged  in  commercial  employ ;  sometimes  in  peri 
lous  cruises  with  his  old  fighting  relative,  or  with  a  no 
less  fighting  nephew  of  the  same,  named  Colombo  the 
younger ;  who,  we  are  told,  was  so  terrible  for  his  deeds 
against  the  infidels,  that  the  Moorish  mothers  used  to 
frighten  their  unruly  children  with  his  name.     The  last 
anecdote  we  have  of  this  obscure  part  of  the  life  of  Co 
lumbus  is  given  by  his  son  Fernando,  and  relates  to  a 
daring  cruise  with  this  bold  rover. 

9.  Colombo  the  younger,  hearing  that  four  Venetian  gal 
leys,  richly  laden,  were  returning  from  Flanders,  waylaid 
and  attacked  them  with  his  squadron  on  the  Portuguese 
coast,  between  Lisbon  and  Cape  St.  Vincent.     A  bloody 
battle  ensued  that  lasted  from  morning  until  evening. 
The   vessels    grappled   each  other,  the  crews  fought 


OF   COLUMBUS.  7 

hand  to  hand,  and  from  ship  to  ship.  The  vessel  com 
manded  by  Columbus  engaged  with  a  large  Venetian 
galley. 

10.  In  the  fury  of  the  contest  they  threw  hand  gre 
nades  and  other  fiery  missiles.     The  galley  took  fire,  and 
as  the  vessels  were  grappled  together  and  could  not  be 
separated,  they  soon  became  one  flaming  mass.     The 
crews  threw  themselves  into  the  sea.     Columbus  seized 
an  oar  that  was  floating  near  him,  and  swam  to  shore, 
which  was  full  two  leagues  distant.     Having  recovered 
from  his  exhaustion,  he  repaired  to  Lisbon,  where  he 
found  many  of  his  Genoese  countrymen,  and  was  induced 
to  take  up  his  residence. 

11.  Such  is'the  account  given  by  Fernando  Columbus 
of  the  first  arrival  of  his  father  in  Portugal.     There  are 
grounds  for  believing,  however,  that  he  had  resided  there 
some  years  previous  to  this  battle,  and  that  he  was  led 
thither,  not  by  desperate  adventure,  but  by  a  spirit  of 
liberal  curiosity,  and  in  pursuit  of  honourable  fortune. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Portuguese  discoveries.  Residence  of  Columbus  at  Lisbon. 

1.  THE   career  of  modern  discovery  had  commenced 
shortly  before  the  time  of  Columbus  ;  but  was  confined 
to  the  western  coast  of  Africa  and  the  adjacent  islands. 
It  at  length  received  a  new  impulse  from  Prince  Henry 
of  Portugal,  son  of  King  John  the  First. 

2.  That  accomplished  prince,  by  prof  bund  study  of  those 
sciences  connected  with  the  maritime  arts,  became  per 
suaded  that  Africa  was  circumnavigable,  and  that,  by  keep 
ing  along  its  shores,  a  ship  might  sail  from  Europe  to  India. 
In  this  way  an  easier  and  cheaper  channel  might  be  opened 
for  the  opulent  trade  of  the  east  ;  which  had  hitherto 
been  conducted  to  Europe  by  an  expensive  internal  route 
along  the  Red  Sea  and  the  Nile,  and  had  been  monopo 
lized  by  the  Italian  merchants. 

3.  In  seeking  to  carry  this  idea  into  effect,  Prince 


8  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

Henry  had  to  struggle  against  the  ignorance  and  pre 
judices  of  the  age.  Navigation  was  yet  in  its  infancy ; 
manners  feared  to  venture  far  from  land  ;  and  looked 
with  awe  at  the  vast  and  unknown  expanse  of  the  At 
lantic.  They  believed  in  the  old  error,  that  the  imagi 
nary  circle  called  the  torrid  zone,  which  girdles  the  earth 
at  the  equator,  was  a  region  of  impassable  heat,  com 
pletely  severing  the  two  hemispheres.  And  they  had  a 
superstitious  notion,  that  whoever  doubled  Cape  Bojador 
would  never  return. 

4.  Prince  Henry  called  in  the  aid  of  the  most  eminent 
men  of  science  to  dispel  these  errors.     He  established  a 
naval  college  and  observatory ;  introduced  tpeat  improve 
ment  in  maps  and  charts,  and  in  the  use  of  the  mariners* 
compass,  and  pushed  the  discoveries  of  his  nation  be 
yond  the  region  of  the  tropics,  quite  to  Cape  de  Verde. 

5.  He  obtained,  also,  a  bull  or  ordinance  from  the  Pope, 
giving  the  crown  of  Portugal  sovereign  authority  over  all 
the  lands   it  might  discover  in  the  Atlantic,  to  India 
inclusive. 

6.  Henry  died  before  he  had  accomplished  the  great 
object  of  his  ambition  ;  but  he  had  lived  long  enough  to 
behold,  through  his  means,  his  native  country  in  a  grand 
career  of  prosperity.     He  has  been  well  described,  as 
"  full  of  thoughts  of  lofty  enterprise,  and  acts  of  generous 
spirit."     He  bore  for  his  device  the  magnanimous  motto, 
"  the  talent  to  do  good,"  the  only  talent  worthy  the  am 
bition  of  princes. 

7.  The  fame  of  the  Portuguese  discoveries  drew  the 
learned,  the  curious,  and  the  adventurous,  to  Lisbon. 
Amoi/g  the  rest,  Columbus  arrived  there  about  the  year 
1470.     He  was  at  that  time  in  the  full  vigour  of  man 
hood,  and  here  it  may  not  be  improper  to  draw  his  por 
trait,  according  to  the  minute  descriptions  given  of  him 
by  his  contemporaries. 

8.  He  was  tall,  well  formed,  muscular,  and  of  an  ele 
vated  and  dignified  demeanour.     His  visage  was  long, 
and  neither  full  nor  meagre ;  his  complexion  fair  and 
freckled,  and  inclined  to  ruddy ;  his  nose  aquiline ;  his 
cheek  bones  were  rather  high ;  his  eyes  light  gray,  and 
apt  to  enkindle  ;  his  whole  countenance  had  in  air  of 


OP   COLUMBUS.  9 

authority.  His  hair,  in  his  youthful  days,  was  of  a  light 
colour,  but  care  and  trouble  soon  turned  it  gray,  and  at 
thirty  years  of  age  it  was  quite  white. 

9.  His  temper  was  naturally  irritable,  but  he  subdued 
it  by  the   magnanimity  of  his  spirit,  so  as  to  conduct 
himself  always   with  a  courteous  and  gentle  gravity. 
Towards  strangers  he  was  engaging  and  affable,  and  his 
amiable  manners  in  domestic  life  won  him  the  love  and 
devotion  of  his  household. 

10.  He  was  moderate  and  simple  in  diet  and  apparel ; 
eloquent  and  animated  at  times  in  discourse,  but  always 
temperate  in  language,  avoiding  oaths  and  all  profane 
expressions.     Throughout  his  life,  he  was  noted  for  a 
strict  attention  to  the  offices  of  religion  ;  nor  did  his  piety 
consist  in  mere  forms,  but   partook  of  that  lefty  and 
solemn  enthusiasm  with  whicli  his  whole  character  was 
strongly  tinctured. 

11.  While  at  Lisbon,  he  was  accustomed  to  attend  re 
ligious  service  at  the  chapel  of  the  Convent  of  All  Saints. 
Here  he  frequently  obtained   a  sight  of  a  young  lady, 
named  Felipa,  who  resided  in  the  convent.     She  WPS  the 
daughter  of  an  Italian  cavalier,  lately  deceased,  B<\rto- 
lomeo  Moiiis  de  Palestrello,  who  had  been  a  distinguish 
ed  navigator  in  the  service  of  Prince  Henry,  and  had 
colonized  and  governed  the  island  of  Porto  Santo. 

12.  A  romantic  attachment  took  place  between  Co 
lumbus  and  this  young  lady,  which  ended  in  marriige. 
It  was  a  match  of  mere  affection,  for  neither  of  them 
could  boast  of  fortune,  and  Columbus  was  obliged  to  em 
ploy  himself  in  making  maps  and  charts  for  the  support 
of  his  family. 

13.  This  connexion  brought  him  more  than  ever  into 
the  sphere  of  discovery.     His  wife's  sister  was  married 
to  Pedro  Correo,  a  navigator  of  note,  between  whom, 
and  Columbus,  there  were  frequent  conversations  about 
the  recent  discoveries  on  the  African  coast,  and  the  popu 
lar  theme,  the  discovery  of  a  route  by  sea  to  India.    His 
mother-in-law  also  related  to  him  all  that  she  knew  of 
the  voyages  and  discoveries  of  her  late  husband,  and  put 
his  charts  and  journals  into  his  possession. 

14.  He  thus  obtained  a  knowledge  of  the  routes  and 


10  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

leading  ideas  of  the  Portuguese  discoverers.  Being, 
moreover,  naturalized  in  Portugal,  he  was  permitted  to 
sail  in  some  of  the  expeditions  to  the  coast  of  Guinea ; 
and  at  one  time  resided  in  the  recently  colonized  island 
of  Porto  Santo,  where  his  wife  had  inherited  some  little 
property,  and  where  she  gave  birth  to  a  son,  whom  he 
named  Diego. 

15.  It  was  a  period  of  great  excitement  with  all  con 
cerned  in  maritime  affairs.     The  recent  discoveries  had 
inflamed  their  imaginations,  and  given  birth  to  rumours 
of  all  kinds,  concerning  unknown  islands,  hidden  in  the 
wastes  of  the  Atlantic,  arid  casually  seen  by  mariners. 
Alany  of  these  were  mere  fables  ;  many  had  originated, 
doubtless,  in  the  self-delusion  of  sailors,  who  beheld  distant 
land  in  those  summer  clouds  which  lie  along  the  horizon. 

16.  The  most  singular  delusion  of  the  kind,  is  that  re 
corded  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Canaries.    They  ima 
gined,  from  time  to  time,  that  they  beheld  a  vast  island 
iii  the  west,  with  lofty  mountains  and  deep  valleys.     It 
made  its  appearance  in  the  clearest  weather,  and  so  dis 
tinctly,  that  expeditions  were  fitted  out  in  search  of  it. 
The  fancied  island,  however,  faded  on  their  approach, 
and  was  never  to  be  found  ;  yet,  it  still  continued  occa 
sionally  to  cheat  the  eye,  and  is  actually  laid  down  in  old 
maps,  under  the  name  of  St.  Bran  dan,  or  St.  Borondon. 

17.  Columbus  participated  largely  in  the  excitement 
of  the  age.     Every  tale  and  rumour,  that  bore  upon  the 
popular  theme,  was  notod  down  by  him  with  curious  care. 
His  voyages  along  the  coast  of  Guinea  ;  his  residence  at 
Porto  Santo  and  his  occupation  in  making  maps  and 
charts,  led  him  more  and  more  to  speculate  upon  the  great 
problem  of  a  route  by  sea  to  India. 

18.  While  others,  however,  thought  only  of  Reeking  it 
by  keeping  along  the  coast  of  Africa,  his  daring  mind  con 
ceived  the  idea  of  turning  his  prow  directly  west,  leaving 
the  old  world  behind  him,  and  steering  boldly  for  the 
shores  of  Asia  across  the  untraversed  waste  of  the  Atlan 
tic.     Having  once  conceived  this  idea,  it  is  interesting 
to  notice   from  what  a  mass  of  facts,  and  fictions,  and 
speculative  theories,  the  grand  project^ of  discovery  was 
wrought  out  by  the  strong  workings  of  his  vigorous  mind, 


OP   COLUMBUS.  11 

CHAPTER  III. 

Grounds  on  which  Columbus  founded  his  theory. 

1.  COLUMBUS  set  it  down  as  a  fundamental  principle, 
that  the  earth  was  a  terraqueous  globe ;  and  that  not  more 
than  two  thirds  of  its  circumference  from  east  to  west, 
had  been  discovered.     The  third  part,  which  remained 
unexplored,  he  supposed  to  be  filled  up  by  land,  to  balance 
the  continents  in  the  hemisphere  already  known. 

2.  This  land  he  supposed  to  be  a  continuation  of  the 
continent  of  Asia,  or  India,  as  it  was  generally  called. 
The  ancients,  though  they  knew  little  of  India  beyond 
the  Ganges,  had  asserted  that  it  stretched  on  eastward 
to  the  distance  of  four  months'  journey  in  a  straight  line. 
In  the  fourteenth  century,  also,  one  Marco  Polo,  a  Vene 
tian,  travelled  to  the  remotest  parts  of  the  east,  and  gave 
an  account  of  their  extent,  that  seemed  to  confirm  the 
assertions  of  the  ancients. 

3.  Adopting   an   opinion   of  Alfraganus,   a   learned 
Arabian,  that  the  circumference  of  the  earth  was  less 
than  was  generally  imagined,  Columbus  concluded,  that, 
if  Asia  extended  as  far  eastward  as  was  represented,  it 
must  approach  the  western  shores  of  Europe  and  Africa, 
and  the  intervening  space  'of  ocean  must  be  of  moderate 
extent. 

4.  Several  facts  tended  to  confirm  this  idea.     A  Por 
tuguese  pilot,  who  had  sailed  farther  to  the  west  t^an 
was  customary,  picked  up  a  piece  of  wood  carved  in  an 
unknown  fashion,  and  drifting  from  that  quarter.    Re^-ds, 
also,  of  an  immense  size,  such  as  were  said  to  grow  mly 
in  India,  floated  to  the   Azore  islands   from  the  w^st. 
Above  all,  a  canoe  with  the  dead  bodies  of  two  rpen, 
differing  in  features  and  complexion  from  any  known 
race,  had  been  cast  by  westerly  winds  upon  those  islands. 

5.  These  and  other  facts  of  similar  import,  strengthen 
ed  his  conviction  that  the  shores  of  India  were  within  a 
navigable  distance,  directly  west,  and  might  easily  be 
attained  by  sailing  in  that  direction. 

6.  The  work  of  Marco  Polo  had  a  powerful  effect  in 
producing  this  conviction,  and  deserves  particular  men- 


12  LIFE   AND    VOYAGES 

tion,  as  furnishing1  a  key  to  many  of  his  plans  and  ideas. 
That  traveller  gave  magnificent  accounts  of  the  maritime 
regions  of  the  extreme  east.  The  province  of  Mangi 
near  Cathay,  and  the  cities  of  Cambalu  and  Kinsay, 
since  found  to  be  maritime  provinces  of  China,  but  at  that 
time  under  the  dominion  of  the  Grand  Khan  of  Tartary. 

7.  He  mentioned  also  an  island  about  fifteen  hundred 
miles  at  sea,  which  he-  called  Cipango,  and  which  is  sup 
posed  to  be  Japan.     He  described  it  as  abounding  in 
spices  and  precious  stones,  and  so  rich  in  metals  that 
the  palace  of  the  king  was  covered  with  plates  of  gold. 

8.  The  project  of  Columbus  was  to  sail  directly  west 
for  this  island  of  Cipango.     There  he  would  pause,  re 
fresh,  and  refit,  and  would  then  prosecute  his  voyage  to 
the  snores  of  Mangi  and  Cathay,  in  the  opulent  dominions 
of  the  Grand  Khan.     In  fact,  throughout  all  his  voyages, 
he  was  continually  in  search  of  those  golden  regions,  and 
fancying  himself  on  the  point  of  arriving  at  them. 

9.  From  this  general  view  of  the  theory  of  Columbus, 
it  will  be  perceived  that  he  was  emboldened  to  his  great 
enterprise  by  two  happy  errors  :  the  imaginary  extent  of 
Asia   to  the  east,  and  the  supposed  smallness  of  the 
earth.     Had  he  not  been  encouraged  by  such  belief,  he 
would  hardly  have  attempted  to  traverse  a  waste  of  wa 
ters,  immeasurable  perhaps  in  extent,  and  where  he  might 
perish  before  he  could  reach  the  opposite  shore. 

10.  When  Columbus  had  once  formed  his  theory,  it  be 
came  fixed  in  his  mind  with  singular  firmness.     He 
never  spoke  in  doubt  or  hesitation,  but  with  as  much 
certainty  as  if  his  eyes  had  beheld  the  promised  land.    A 
deep  religious  sentiment  mingled  with  his  thoughts,  and 
gave  them  a  tinge  of  superstition,  but  of  a  sublime  and 
lofty  kind. 

11.  He  looked  upon  himself  as  standing  in  the  hand 
of  heaven,  chosen  from  among  men  for  the  accomplish 
ment  of  a  high  purpose ;  he  read,  as  he  supposed,  his 
contemplated  discovery   foretold   in.  Holy   Writ,    and 
shadowed  forth  darkly  in  the  prophecies  ;  wherein  it 
was  declared,  that  the  ends  of  the  earth  should  be  brought 
together,  and  all  nations,  and  tongues,  and  languages, 
united  under  the  banner  of  the  Redeemer. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  10 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Events  in  Portugal  relative  to  Discovery.   Propositions  of 
Columbus  to  various  courts. 

1.  THE  project  of  discovery  conceived  by  Columbus 
was  too  important  an  enterprise  for  an  individual,  and 
required  the  patronage  of  some  sovereign  power.    Such, 
however,   was   difficult  to  be    obtained.      Navigation 
was  still  too  imperfect  for  so  perilous  an  undertaking, 
though  the  compass  had  been  introduced  into  general 
use,  yet  mariners  rarely  ventured  out  of  sight  of  land. 
A  voyage  into  the  unknown  wastes  of  the  ocean  in 
search  of  some  imagined  land,  seemed  as  extravagant  a 
project  then,  as  it  would,  at  the  present  day,  to  launch 
forth  in  a  balloon  into  the  regions  of  space  in  quest  ot 
some  distant  star. 

2.  Several  years  elapsed,  therefore,  without  any  de 
cided  effort  on  the  part  of  Columbus  to  carry  his  design 
into  execution.     During  this  interval  he  made  a  voyage 
into  the  northern  seas,  beyond  the  Ultima  Thule  of  the 
ancients,  penetrated  the  polar  circle,  and  convinced  him 
self  that  the  frozen  zone  was  habitable. 

3.  At  this  juncture,  John  II.  ascended  the  throne  of 
Portugal.      He  was   anxious  to   carry  into  effect  the 
splendid  idea  of  his  grand  uncle  Prince  Henry,  to  cir 
cumnavigate  Africa,  and  bear  the  Portuguese  flag  into 
the  Indian  seas.     Under  his  patronage,  the  attention  of 
men  of  science  was  again  directed  to  the  improvement  of 
navigation,  and  the  result  of  a  conference  of  the  most  ex 
perienced  astronomers  was,  the  application  of  the  astro 
labe  to  maritime  purposes. 

4.  This  instrument  possessed  the  essential  advantages 
of  the  quadrant,  into  which  it  has  since  been  modified. 
The  project  of  Columbus  was  thus  divested  of  its  most 
hazardous  character,  for  science  had  furnished  a  sure 
guide  for  discovery  across  the  trackless  ocean.    Accord 
ingly,  it  was  shortly  after  this  event  that  Columbus  was 
emboldened  to  seek  an  audience  of  the  king  of  Portugal, 
and  lay  before  him  his  great  scheme  of  seeking  India  by 
a  voyage  to  the  west. 

2 


14  LIFE   AND  VOYAGES 

5.  King  John  gave  him  an  attentive  hearing,  and,  be» 
ing  struck  with  his  scheme,  referred  it  to  a  junto  of  men 
of  science.     It  was  treated  by  them  with  contempt,  as 
extravagant  and  visionary.     The  king  was  not  satisfied 
witii  their  decision.     He  desired  the  opinion  of  his  privy 
counsellors,  among  whom  were  some  of  the  most  learned 
men  of  the  kingdom.     Their  opinion  was  equally  unfa 
vourable  with  that  of  the  junto. 

6.  Certain  of  the  counsellors,  however,  seeing  that  the 
king  still  retained  an  inclination  for  the  enterprise,  de 
vised  a  plan  by  which  it  might,  be  secretly  put  to  the  test, 
without  publicly  committing  the  dignity  of  the  crown,  in 
what  they  considered  a  mere  fantasy.     Procuring  from 
Columbus  a  detailed  plan  of  his  proposed  voyage,  and  the 
charts  by  which  he  intended  to  shape  his  course,  they 
privately  despatched  a  caravel,  or  small  vessel,  to  pursue 
the  designated  route. 

7.  The  caravel  took  its  departure  from  the  Cape  de 
Verde  islands,  and  stood  westward  for  several  days.   The 
wea,ther  grew  stormy ;  the  pilots,  having  no  zeal  to  sti 
mulate  them,  and  seeing  nothing  but  a  waste  of  wild 
tumbling  waves  still  extending   before  them,  lost  ail 
courage,  and  returned  to  Lisbon,  ridiculing  the  project 
as  extravagant  and  irrational. 

8.  When  Columbus  learnt  the  unworthy  attempt  that 
had  been  made  to  defraud  him  of  his  enterprise,  he  re 
nounced  all  further  negotiation  with  the  crown  of  Portu 
gal.    The  death  of  his  wifr  having  dissolved  the  tie  which 
bound  him  to  the  land,  he  took  with  him  his  son  Diego, 
then  a  mere  child,  and  turned  his  back  upon  a  country 
which  had  treated  him  with  so  little  faith. 

9.  He   now  repaired  to  his  native  country  Genoa, 
where  he  revisited  his  aged  father,  and  made  such  ar 
rangements  for  his  support  as  his  limited  purse  afforded. 
And  here  it  ought  to  be  mentioned  to  his  honour,  that, 
during  all  the  time  of  his  residence  in  Portugal,  he  had 
contrived  out  of  his  scanty  means,  to  succour  his  indigent 
parent,  and  to  educate  his  younger  brothers. 

10.  While  at  Genoa,  he  made  his  propositions  to  the 
government.     The  republic,  however,  was  in  a  state  of 
decline,  and  embarrassed  by  ruinous  wars.   Nations,  like 


OP   COLUMBUS*.  15 

individuals,  lose  their  enterprise,  in  times  of  adversity, 
when  it  is  most  needed.  Thus  Genoa,  broken  in  spirit, 
rejected  a  scheme  which,  if  adopted,  might  have  elevated 
her  to  tenfold  splendour,  and  perpetuated  the  golden  wand 
of  commerce  in  the  grasp  of  Italy. 

11.  The  next  application  of  Columbus  was  to  the  re 
public  of  Venice,  but  here  he  met  with  no  better  success. 
He  then  engaged  his  brother  Bartholomew  to  sail  for 
England,  to  lay  his  propositions  before  Henry  VII. ,  whom 
he  had  heard  extolled  for  his  wisdom  and  munificence. 
For  himself,  he  sailed  for  Spain,  where  he  arrived  in  great 
poverty  ;  thus  in  a  manner  begging  his  way  from  court 
to  court,  to  offer  to  princes  the  discovery  of  a  world. 


CHAPTER  V. 

First  arrival  of  Columbus  in  Spain.     Characters  of  the 
Spanish  Sovereigns. 

1.  THE  first  trace  we  have  of  Columbus  in   Spain, 
is  striking  and  peculiar.     About  half  a  league  from  the 
little  port  of  Palos,  in  Andalusia,  on  a  solitary  height 
overlooking  the  sea  coast,  and  surrounded  by  a  forest  of 
pine  trees,  there  stood,  and  stands  at  the  present  day,  an 
ancient  convent  of  Franciscan  friars,  called  the  convent 
of  Santa  Maria  de  Rabida. 

2.  A  stranger  travel]  ing  on  foot,  accompanied  by  a 
young  boy,  stopped  one  day  at  the  gate,  and  asked  of  the- 
porter  a  little  bread  and   water  for  his  child.     That 
stranger  was  Columbus,  accompanied  by  his  young  son 
Diego. 

3.  While  they  were  partaking  of  this  humble  refresh 
ment,  the  guardian  of  the  convent,  Juan  Perez  de  Mar- 
chena,  happened  to  pass  by.     He  perceived  from  the  air 
and  accent  of  Columbus  that  he  was  a  foreigner,  and 
being  interested  by  his  appearance,  entered  into  conver 
sation  with  him. 

4.  Learning  the  singular  object  of  his  travels,  he  de 
tained  him  as  his  guest,  and  invited  a  scientific  friend 


LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

Garcia  Fernandez,  a  physician  of  Palos,  and  several 
veteran  mariners  of  the  neighbourhood  to  confer  with 
him.  They  all  became  converts  to  the  theory  of 
Columbus. 

5.  One  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon,  the  head  of  a  wealthy 
family  of  experienced  navigators  in  Palos,  offered  to  de 
fray  the  expenses  of  Columbus  to  court,  and,  if  his  enter 
prise  should  be  adopted  by  the  sovereigns,  to  engage  in  it 
with  purse  and  person. 

6.  To  ensure  him  a  ready  and  favourable  hearing,  the 
worthy  friar  Juan  Perez,  gave  him  a  letter  to  the  queen's 
confessor,  Fernando  de  Talavera,  a  priest  of  great  political 
influence,  and  promised,  in  the  mean  time,  to  maintain 
and  educate  his  son  Diego  at  the  convent. 

7.  Thus  aided  and  encouraged,  he  set  out  in  the  spring 
of  1486,  to  seek  the  countenance  of  the  Spanish  sove 
reigns,  who  at  that  time  were  assembling  their  forces  at 
Cordova,  for  a  campaign  against  the  Moorish  kingdom  of 
Granada.     And  here  it  is  proper  to  give  a  brief  descrip 
tion  of  these  princes,  who  performed  such  an  important 
part  in  the  events  of  this  history. 

8.  Ferdinand   and  Isabella  had  separate   claims  to 
sovereignty,  and  held  separate  councils,  in  virtue  of  their 
.separate  kingdoms  of  Arragon  and  Castile.     They  were 
said,  therefore,  to  live  together,  not  like  man  and  wife 
whose  estates  are  in  common,  under  the  orders  of  the 
husljand,  but  as  two  monarchs  strictly  allied. 

9.  So  happily  united  were  they,  however,  by  common 
views  and  interest,  and  by  a  great  deference  for  each 
other,  that  this  double  administration  never  prevented  a 
unity  of  purpose  and  action.     All  acts  of  sovereignty 
were  executed  in  both  their  names ;  all  public  writings 
subscribed  with  both  their  signatures  ;  their  likenesses 
were  stamped  together  on  the  public  coin  ;  and  the  royal 
seal  displayed  the  united  arms  of  Castile  and  Arragon. 

10.  Ferdinand  possessed  a  clear  and  comprehensive 
genius,  and  great  penetration.     He  was  equable  in  tem 
per,   indefatigable  in  business,  and  a  great  observer  of 
men.     It  has  been  said,  however,  and  apparently  with 
reason,  that  l?j  was  bigoted   in  religion,  and  craving 
rather  than  magnanimous  in  his  ambition  ;  that  he  made 


OP  COLUMBUS.  17 

war  less  for  glory  than  for  mere  dominion  ;  and  that  his 
policy  was  cold,  selfish,  and  artful. 

11.  Isabella  was  of  the  middle  size,  and  well  formed; 
with  a  fair  complexion,  auburn  hair,  and  clear  blue  eyes. 
There  was   a  mingled  gravity  and  sweetness  in  her 
countenance,  and  a  singular  modesty,  gracing,  as  it  did, 
great   firmness  of  purpose  and  earnestness   of  spirit. 
Though  strongly  attached  to  her  husband,  and  studious 
of  his  fame,   yet   she  always  maintained  her  distinct 
rights  as  an  allied  prince. 

12.  She  exceeded  him   in  beauty,  personal  dignity, 
acuteness  of  genius,  and  grandeur  of  soul.     Combining 
the  active  and  resolute  qualities  of  man  with  the  softer 
charities  of  woman,  she  mingled  in  the  warlike  councils 
of  her  husband,  and,  being  inspired  with  a  truer  idea  of 
glory,  infused  a  more  lofty  and  generous  temper  into  his 
subtle  and  calculating  policy. 

13.  Her  fostering  and  maternal  care  was  continually 
directed  to  reform  the  laws,  and  heal  the  ills  engendered 
by  a  long  course  of  civil  wars.   She  assembled  round  her 
the  ablest  men  in  literature  and  science,  and  directed 
herself  by  their  councils  in  encouraging  literature  and 
the  arts.     Such  was  the  noble  minded  woman,  who  was 
destined  to   acquire  immortal  renown  by  her  spirited 
patronage  of  the  discovery  of  the  new  world. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Propositions  of  Columbus  to  the  Court  of  Spam. 

1*  COLUMBUS  arrived  at  Cordova,  at  a  most  unpro- 
pitious  moment  for  his  suit.  The  monarchs  were  in  all 
the  bustle  of  military  preparation.  The  court  was  like 
a  camp  ;  every  avenue  was  crowded  by  warlike  nobles 
and  hardy  cavaliers,  with  their  splendid  retinues,  and 
household  troops.  Every  body  was  engrossed  by  the- 
opening  campaign. 

2.  Even  the  priest,  Fernando  de  Talavera,  to  whom 
Columbus  brought  his  letter  of  recommendation,  and 
on  whom  he  reckoned  as  a  patron  and  protector  was 
2* 


18  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

completely  taken  up  with  military  concerns.  He  listened 
but  coldly  to  Columbus,  regarding  his  plan  of  discovery 
as  extravagant  and  impossible. 

3.  The   campaign  opened  almost  immediately;    the 
king  took  the  field  in  person  ;  the  queen  was  part  of  the 
time  present  in  the  camp,  and  continually  occupied  by 
the  hurrying  concerns  of  the  war.     Under  such  circum 
stances,  Columbus  found  it  impossible  to  obtain  a  hearing. 

4.  Humiliation  was   added  to   disappointment.     He 
had  to  endure  the  ridicule  of  the  light  and  supercilious. 
Some  scoffed  at  him  as  a  dreamer,  others  as  an  adven 
turer  ;  the  very  children  were  taught  to  consider  him  a 
madman,  and  pointed  at  their  foreheads  as  he  passed. 

5.  Indeed,  the  slender  interest  on  which  he  founded 
his  hopes  of  royal  patronage,  merely,  "  the  letter  of  a 
gray  friar,"  and  the  simple  and  poor  apparel  in  which 
his  indigence  compelled  him  to  appear,  formed  a  prepos 
terous  contrast  in  the  eyes  of  the  courtiers,  with  the 
magnificence  of  his  speculations.     He  waited  patiently, 
however,  in  the  hope  of  a  more  favourable  opportunity  to 
urge  his  suit,  and  in  the  mean  time  supported  himself  by 
making  maps  and  charts. 

6.  While  thus  lingering  in  Cordova,  he  became  attach 
ed  to  a  lady  of  that  city,  of  noble  family,  named  Beatrix 
Enriquez.     Like  most  of  the  circumstances  of  this  part 
of  his  life,  his  connexion  with  her  is  wrapped  in  obscu 
rity,  but  appears  never  to  have  been  sanctioned  by  mar 
riage.     She  was  the  mother  of  his  second  son  Fernando, 
who  became  his  historian,  and  whom  he  always  treated 
on  terms   of  perfect  equality  with  his   legitimate,  son 
Diego. 

7.  By  degrees  the  attention  of  men  of  reflection  began 
to  be  drawn  to  this  solitary  individual,  who,  almost  un 
supported,  was  endeavouring  to  make  his  way,  with  so 
singular  a  proposition,  to  the  foot  of  the  throne.     Who~ 
ever  conversed  with  him,  was  struck  with  the  dignity  of 
his  manners,  the  earnest  sincerity  of  his  discourse,  and 
the  force  of  his  reasoning. 

8.  Among-  the  warmest  of  his  proselytes  was,  Alonzo 
de  Quintanilla,  comptroller  of  the  finances  of  Castile, 
who  received   him  as  a  guest  into  his  house.    Above 


OF    COLUMBUS.  19 

all,  he  was  fortunate  in  securing-  the  countenance  of 
Pedro  Gonzalez  de  Mendoza,  archbishop  of  Toledo, 
and  grand  cardinal  of  Spain.  This  was  a  man  of  great 
talents  and  endowments,  who  was  consulted  by  the  sove 
reigns  on  all  occasions  of  consequence,  and  possessed 
such  influence  over  them,  as  to  be  facetiously  called 
« the  third  king  of  Spain."  Through  the  mediation  of 
the  grand  cardinal,  the  long  sought  for  audience  of  the 
king  was  at  length  obtained. 

9.  Columbus  appeared  in  the  presence  of  the  monarch 
with  modesty,  yet  self-possession.     His  mind  was  eleva 
ted  by  the  importance  of  his  errand ;  for  he  felt,  as  he 
afterwards  declared,  animated  as  if  by  a  sacred  fire  from 
above,  and  considered  himself  an  instrument  in  the  hand 
of  heaven  to  accomplish  its  grand  designs. 

10.  Ferdinand  was  too  keen  a  judge  of  men  not  to 
appreciate  his  character.     He  perceived,  also,  that  his 
scheme  had  scientific   and  practical  foundations,  and 
might   lead  to  discoveries  far  exceeding  those  which 
had  shed  such  glory  upon  Portugal.     He  ordered  Fer 
nando  de  Talavera,  the  prior  of  Prado,  to  assemble  the 
ablest  men  of  science  of  the  kingdom,  to  hold  a  con 
ference  with  Columbus,  and  report  their  opinion  as  to 
the  merits  of  his  theory. 

11.  Columbus  now  considered  the  day  of  success  at 
hand ;  he  had  been  deceived  by  courtiers,  and  scoffed  at  by 
the  vulgar  and  the  ignorant ;  but  he  was  now  to  appear  be 
fore  the  most  learned  and  enlightened  men,  elevated,  as 
he  supposed,  above  narrow  prejudice  and  selfish  interest. 
From  the  dispassionate  examination  of  such  a  body  of 
eages,  he  could  not  but  anticipate  a  triumphant  verdict. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Columbus  before  the  Council  at  Salamanca. 

1.  THE  interesting  conference  took  place  at  Sala 
manca,  the  great  seat  of  learning  in  Spain.  It  was  held 
in  the  dominican  convent  of  St.  Stephen,  the  most  scien- 


20  LIFE   AND  VOYAGES 

tific  college  in  the  university.  The  hall  of  the  old 
convent  presented  a  striking  spectacle  ;  a  simple  manner 
standing  forth  before  an  array  of  collegiate  sages,  learned 
friars,  and  august  dignitaries  of  the  church,  maintaining 
a  novel  theory,  by  the  aid  of  natural  eloquence,  and,  as  it 
were,  pleading  the  cause  of  the  new  world. 

2.  The  greater  part  of  this  learned  junto,  it  would  ap 
pear,  earn  a  preposssssed  against  him,  as  men  in  place 
and  power  are  too  apt  to  be  against  poor  applicants. 
There  is  always  a  proneness  to  consider  a  theorist  under 
examination  as  a  kind  of  delinquent  or  impostor,  upon 
trial,  who  is  to  be  detected  and  exposed. 

3.  Columbus  too,  was  but  little  fitted  to  win  favour  in 
scholastic  eyes  ;  an  obscure  navigator,  member  of  no 
learned   institution,  destitute  of  all  the  trappings,  anr 
titles,  and  diplomas,  which  sometimes  give  oracular  au 
thority   to  dulness,   and   depending   merely  upon   the 
force  of  natural  genius. 

4.  Some  of  the  assembly  considered  him  an  adventurer.; 
or,  at  best,  a  visionary  ;  others  scornfully  observed,  that, 
after  so  many  profound  philosophers  had  occupied  them 
selves  in  geographical  investigations,  and  so  many  able 
navigators  had  been  voyaging  about  the  world  for  ages, 
it  argued  great  presumption  in  an  ordinary  man  to  sup- 
pose 'there  remained  so  vast  a  discovery  for  him  to  make. 

5.  Several  of  the  objections  opposed  by  this  learned 
body  will  appear  glaringly  absurd  at  the  present  day. 
Thus  the  very  idea  of  antipodes,  and  of  the  globular  form 
of  the  earth,  was  scouted  on  the  authority  of  one  of  the 
ancient  fathers  of  the  church. 

6.  " How  absurd,"  said  he,  "to  believe  that  there  are 
people  with  their  feet  opposite  to  ours  ;   who  walk  with 
their  heels  upward  and  their  heads  hanging  down  ;  that 
there  is  a  part  of  the  world  in  which  all  things  are  topsy 
turvy  ;  where  the  trees  grow  with  their  branches  down 
ward,  and  where  it  rains,  hails,  and  snows  upward  !  The 
idea  of  the  roundness  of  the  earth,"  he  adds,  "  was  the 
cause  of  inventing  this  table  ;  for  when  philosophers  have 
once  erred,  they  go  on  in  their  absurdities,  defending  one 
with  another." 

7.  These  objections,  which  may  excite  a  smile  in  the 


OP   COLUMBUS.  21 

present  enlightened  age,  were  excusable  at  the  time,  con 
sidering  the  imperfect  state  of  knowledge.  The  rotundi 
ty  of  the  earth  was  as  yet  a  mere  matter  of  speculation  ; 
no  one  could  tell  whether  the  ocean  was  not  too  vast  to 
be  traversed,  nor  were  the  laws  of  specific  gravity  and  of 
central  gravitation  ascertained,  by  which,  granting  the 
earth  to  be  a  sphere,  the  possibility  of  making  the  circuit 
of  it,  and  of  standing  on  opposite  sides,  would  be  manifest. 

8.  But  beside  these  and  many  other  scientific  objec 
tions,  others  of  a  graver  nature  were  urged,  partaking  of 
the  bigotry  of  the  age,  and  savouring  more  of  the  cloister 
than  the  college.     These  went  to  prove  that  the  theory 
under  discussion  was  incompatible  with  the  historical 
foundations  of  the  Christian  faith,  and  in  open  contradic 
tion  to  certain  specified  passages  of  the  Bible. 

9.  Columbus  in  the  outset  of  the  conference  had  been 
daunted  by  the  greatness  of  his  task,  and  the  august  na 
ture  of  his  auditory ;  but  he  was  sustained  by  what  he 
considered  a  divine  impulse,  and  he  was  of  an  ardent  tem- 
perament,that  became  heated  in  action  by  its  own  generous 
fire.  All  scientific  objections  he  cooiy  combated  by  his  own 
knowledge  and  experience,  but  at  the  scriptural  objections, 
his  visionary  spirit  took  fire. 

10.  We  are  told  of  his  commanding  person,  his  ele 
vated  demeanour,  his  kindling  eye,  and  the  persuasive 
tones  of  his  voice.     How  must  they  have  given  force 
to  his  words,  as,  casting  aside  his  maps  and  charts,  he 
met  his  opponents  upon  their  religious  ground,  pouring 
forth  those  magnificent  texts  of  scripture,  and  those 
mysterious  predictions  of  the  prophets,  which  he  con 
sidered  types  and  annunciations  of  the  sublime  discovery 
which  he  proposed ! 

11.  Many  of  his  hearers,  in  fact,  were  convinced  by  his 
reasoning,  and  warmed  by  his  eloquence ;  the  majority, 
however,  with  the  inert  bigotry,  and  pedantic  pride  of 
cloistered  life,  refused  to  yield  to  the  demonstrations  of  an 
obscure  and  unlearned  foreigner,  and,  though  the  board 
held   several   subsequent   conferences,   it  came  to  no 
decision. 

12.  For  several  years  Columbus  was  kept  in  suspense^ 
following  the  movements  of  the  sovereigns  in  their  ex- 


22  LIFE    AND   VO  If  AGES 

peditions  against  the  kingdom  of  Granada,  and  was  thus 
present  at  some  of  the  most  striking  scenes  of  this  wild, 
rugged,  and  mountainous  war.  In  one  of  the  severest 
campaigns,  he  is  said  to  have  distinguished  himself  by 
his  personal  prowess.  His  expenses,  while  thus  follow 
ing  the  court,  were  defrayed  by  the  sovereigns,  and  hopes 
were  continually  given  that  his  suit  would  be  attended 
to  ;  but  the  tempest  of  warlike  affairs,  which  hurried  the 
court  from  place  to  place,  swept  away  all  matters  of  less 
immediate  importance. 

13.  At  length,  in  the  winter  of  1491,  when  the  sove 
reigns  were  about  to  depart  on  another  campaign,  Co 
lumbus,  losing  all  patience,  pressed  for  a  decisive  reply. 
The  learned  counsel  of  Salamanca  being,  in  consequence, 
called  upon  to  report  their  decision,  informed  the  sove 
reigns  that  the  majority  of  their  body  condemned  the 
scheme  as  vain  and  impossible,  and  considered  it  unbe 
coming  such  great  princes  to  engage  in  an  undertaking 
of  the  kind,  on  such  weak  grounds  as  had  been  advanced. 

14.  Notwithstanding  this  decision,  the  sovereigns  still 
held  out  hopes,  that,  after  the  war  should  be  concluded, 
they  would  be  inclined  to  treat  about  the  matter ;  but  Co 
lumbus  gave  up  all  hope  of  countenance  from  the  throne, 
and  turned   his  back   upon  Seville,   indignant  at   the 
delays  and  disappointments  he  had  experienced. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Columbus  seeks  patronage  amongst  the  Spanish  Grandees. 
Returns  to  the  convent  of  La  Rabida.  Resumes  his 
negotiations  with  the  Sovereigns.  [1491.] 

1.  COLUMBUS  now  sought  t6  engage  the  patronage  of 
the  Dukes  of  Medina  Sidonia,  and  Medina  Celi.  Both 
were  powerful  Grandees,  whose  principalities  lay  on  the 
sea  board,  where  they  had  ports,  and  shipping,  and  troops, 
and  mariners,  at  their  command.  He  had  many  inter 
views  with  them  severally,  and  was  flattered  by  both 
with  hopes  of  success,  but  "both  finally  disappointed  him. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  23 

2.  He  then   determined   to  repair  to  Paris,  having1 
received  a  favourable  reply  to  an  application  which  he 
had  made  by  letter,  to  the  king  of  France.  He  departed, 
therefore,  for  the  convent  of  La  Rabida,  to  take  thence 
his  eldest  son  Diego,  and  leave  him  with  his  other  son  at 
Cordova. 

3.  When  the  worthy  Friar  Juan  Perez  beheld  him  ar- 
ive  once  more  at  the  gate  of  his  convent,  humble  in  garb, 

and  cast  down  in  spirit,  he  was  greatly  moved ;  but 
when  he  found  that  he  was  about  to  seek  the  employ  of 
another  government,  his  patriotism  took  the  alarm. 

4.  He  hud  been  confessor  to  the  queen  ;  a  sacred  office 
which  gives   a  priest  an  almost  pa.ternal  privilege  of 
advising.    Availing  himself  of  this,  he  wrote  to  Isabella, 
strongly  vindicating  the  scheme  of  Columbus,  and  con 
juring  her  not  to  reject  an  enterprise  so  glorious  for  Spain. 

5.  This  letter  was  despatched  by  an  honest  pilot  of  the 
neighbourhood  ;  and  Columbus  was  persuaded  to  await 
the  reply.     It  arrived  in  the  course  of  a  fortnight,  and 
was  extremely  encouraging.     The  queen  thanked  Juan 
Perez  for  his  timely  services,  and  requested  him  to  repair 
immediately  to  the  court,  that  she  might  confer  with 
him  ;  while    Columl~  Js  should  remain  at  the   convent 
until  further  order? 

6.  Before  midnight,  trie  ^arm  hearted  friar  had  saddled 
lis  mule  and  departed.     So  v-ffuctual  were  his  intrrces- 

sions,  that  in  a  short  time,  Columbus  received  a  sum 
mons  to  court,  and  money  to  enable  him  to  appear 
there  in  befitting  style.  He  accordingly  exchanged  his 
thread-bare  garment  for  one  of  more  courtly  t  xture,  and, 
purchasing  a  mule,  set  out,  reanimated  with  fresh  hopes, 
for  the  camp  at  Santa  Fd,  before  Granada. 

7.  He  arrived  in  time  to  witness  the  memorable  sur 
render  of  that  capital  to  the  Spanish  arms.     He  beheld 
Boabdil,  the  last  of  the  Moorish  kin«-s,  sally  forth  from  the 
Alhainbra,  and  yield  up  the  keys  of  that  favourite  seat  of 
Moslem  power ;  while  the  king  and  queen,  with  all  the 
chivalry  and  magnificence  of  Spain,  moved  forward  in 
proud  and   solemn  procession,  to  receive  this  token  of 

•Emission.     The  air  resounded  with  shouts  of  joy,  with 
ongs  of  triumph,   and  hymns  of  thanksgiving.     Oa 


24  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

every  side  were  beheld  military  rejoicings  and  religions 
oblations. 

8.  During  this  brilliant  and  triumphant  scene>  says  an 
elegant  Spanish  writer,  "  A  man,  obscure  and  but  little 
known,  followed  the  court.     Confounded  in  the  crowd  of 
importunate  applicants,  and  feeding  his  imagination,  in 
the  corners  of  antechambers,  with  the  pompous  project 
of  discovering  a  world,  he  was  melancholy  and  dejected 
in  the  midst  of  the  general  rejoicing,  and  beheld  with  in 
difference,  almost  with  contempt,  the  conclusion  of  a 
conquest  which  swelled  all  bosoms  with  jubilee,  and 
seemed  to  have  reached  the  utmost  bounds  of  desire. 
That  man  was  Christopher  Columbus." 

9.  The  moment  had  now  arrived,  however,  when  the 
monarchs  stood  pledged  to  attend  to  his  proposals.  They 
kept  their  word,  and  persons  of  confidence  were  appoint 
ed  to  negotiate  with   him.     At  the  very  outset,  how 
ever,  unexpected  difficulties  arose.   Columbus  demanded 
that  he  should  be  made  Viceroy  and  Admiral  of  all  the 
countries  he  should  discover,  and  receive  one  tenth  of  all 
the  gains. 

10.  The  courtiers  were  indignant  at  a  demand  of  such 
titles  and  privileges,  by   one  whom  they   regarded  as 
a  needy  adventurer.     One  sneered  at  him,  as  devising  a 
selfish  bargain,  wherein  he  had  every  thing  to  gain  and 
nothing  to  lose.     Upon  this  Columbus  promptly  offered 
to  be  at  one  eighth  of  the  cost,  provided  he  were  ensured 
an  eighth  of  the  profits. 

11.  His  terms,  however,  were  pronounced  inadmissi 
ble,  and  others  more  moderate  were  suggested  in  stead ; 
but  Columbus  refused  to  cede  the  least  point,  either  of 
profit  or  dignity,  and  the  negotiation  was  broken  off. 

12.  It  is  impossible  not  to  admire  the  great  constancy 
of  purpose  and  loftiness  of  spirit  here  displayed  by  Co 
lumbus.     Though  so  large  a  portion  of  life  had  worn 
away  in  fruitless  solicitings,  during  which  he  had  expe 
rienced  poverty,  neglect,  ridicule,  and  disappointment ; 
though  there  was  no  certainty  that  he  would  not  have  to 
enter  upon  the  same  career  at  any  other  court ;  yet  no 
thing  could  make  him  descend  to  terms  which  he  con 
sidered  beneath  the  dignity  of  his  enterprise. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  25 

13.  Indignant  at  the  repeated  disappointments  he  had 
experienced  in  Spain,  he  now  determined  to  abandon  it 
for  ever,  and,  mounting  his  mule,  sallied  forth  from  Santa 
Fe,  on  his  way  to  Cordova,  with  the  intention  of  imme 
diately  proceeding  from  thence  to  France. 

14.  The  friends  of  Columbus  beheld  his  departure  with 
despair :  two  of  them,  Luis  de  St.  Angel,  and  Alonzo 
de  Quintanilla,  resolved  to  make  one  last  effort  in  the 
cause.     Hastening  to  the  queen,  they  once  more  vin 
dicated  the  enterprise,  with  the  courage  and  eloquence 
which  honest  zeal  inspires,  and  implored  her  to  secure 
the  glorious  prize,  before  it  was  too  late. 

15.  The  generous  spirit  of  Isabella  was  roused  by  this 
last  appeal.     She  was  eager  for  the  enterprise  ;  but  she 
remembered  that  king  Ferdinand  looked  coldly  upon  it, 
and  that  the  royal  treasury  was  drained  by  the  war. 
Her  suspense  was  but  momentary.     "  I  undertake  it," 
said  she,  "  for  my  own  crown  of  Castile,  and  will  pledge 
my  jewels  to  raise  the  necessary  funds." 

16.  This  was  the  proudest  moment  in  the  life  of  Isa 
bella  ;  it  stamped  her  renown  for  ever  as  the  patroness 
of  the  discovery  of  the  New  World.     Her  generous  of 
fer  to  pledge  her  jewels  was  not  claimed ;  St.  Angel, 
who  was  receiver  of  the  church  revenues  of  Arragon, 
promised  to  advance  the  requisite  money,  as  a  loan,  from 
his  official  treasury. 

17.  A  courier  was  sent  in  all  haste  to  call  back  Colum 
bus.     He  was  overtaken  at  the  bridge  of  Pinos,  about  two 
leagues   from  Granada  ;   but  hesitated  to  return   and 
subject  himself  to  further  delays  and  disappointments. 
When  he  understood,  however,  that  Isabella  had  pledged 
her  word  to  undertake  the  enterprise,  every  doubt  was 
dispelled  ;  he  turned  the  reins  of  his  mule,  and  hastened 
back  joyfully  to  Santa  Fe,  confiding  implicitly  in  the 
noble  probity  of  that  princess. 


26  LIFE   AND   VOYAGES 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Arrangements  with  the  Spanish  Sovereigns.     Prepares 
tions  for  departure.  [1492.] 

1.  On  arriving-  at  Santa  Fe,  Columbus  was  admitted 
immediately  to  the  presence  of  Isabella,  and  the  benignity 
of  his  reception  atoned  for  all  past  neglect.     Through 
deference  to  the  zeal  she  had  thus  suddenly  displayed, 
the  king  yielded  his  tardy  concurrence  ;  but  Isabella  was 
the  soul  of  this  grand  enterprise. 

2.  A  perfect  understanding  being  now  effected  with 
the  sovereigns,  articles  of  agreement  were  drawn  up, 
to  the  following  effect : — 

1.  That  Columbus  should  have,  for  himself  during  his 
life,  and  his  heirs  and  successors  for  ever,  the  office  of 
high  admiral  in  all  the  seas,  lands,  and  continents,  he 
might  discover,  with  similar  honours  and  prerogatives 
to  those  enjoyed  by  the  high  admiral  of  Castile,  in  his 
district. 

2.  That  he  should  be  viceroy  and  governor  general 
over  all  the  said  lands  and  continents,  with  the  privilege 
of  nominating  three  candidates  for  the  government  of 
each  island  or  province,  one  of  whom  should  be  selected 
by  the  sovereigns. 

3.  That  he  should  be  entitled  to  one  tenth  of  all  free 
profits,  arising  from  the  merchandise  and  productions  of 
the  countries  within  his  admiralty. 

4.  That  he,  or  his  lieutenant,  should  be  the  sole  judge 
of  all  causes  and  disputes  arising  out  of  traffick  between 
those  countries  and  Spain. 

5.  That   he  might  then,  and  at  all  after  times,  con 
tribute  an  eighth  part  of  the  expense  of  expeditions  to 
sail  to  the  countries  he  expected  to  discover,  and  should 
receive  in  consequence  an  eighth  part  of  the  profits. 

3.  These  capitulations  were  signed  by  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella,  at  the  city  of  Santa  Fe,  in  the  vega  or  plain  of 
Granada,  on  the  17th  of  April,  1492.  All  the  royal 
documents,  issued  in  consequence,  bore  equally  the  sig 
natures  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  but  her  separate  crown 
of  Castile  defrayed  all  the  expense. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  27 

4.  One  of  the  great  objects  held  out  by  Columbus  in 
his  undertaking,  was  the  propagation  of  the  Christian 
faith.     He  expected  to  find  barbarous  and  infidel  nations 
in  the  unknown  parts  of  the  east,  and  to  visit  the  terri 
tories  of  the  Grand  Khan,  whose  conversion  had  in  for 
mer  times  been  an  object  of  pious  missions.     The  sove 
reigns  concurred  with  him  in  these  ideas,  and,  when  he 
afterwards  departed  on  his  voyage,  they  actually  gave 
him  letters  addressed  to  the  Grand  Khan  of  Tartary. 

5.  Nor  did  his  religious  zeal  stop  here.     He  earnest 
ly  proposed  that  the  profits  which  might  arise  from  his 
discoveries,  might  be  consecrated  to  a  crusade  to  rescue 
the  holy  sepulchre  at  Jerusalem,  from  the  power  of  the 
infidels.     In  fact,  this  pious  but  romantic  enterprise  was 
a  leading  object  of  his  ambition  throughout  his  subsequent 
life,  and  he  considered  his  great  discovery  but  as  a  dis 
pensation  of  Providence,  to  furnish  means  for  the  re 
covery  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre. 

6.  The  agreement  with  the  sovereigns  being  concluded, 
Columbus  was  empowered  to  fit  out  three  ships  for  the 
enterprise.     The  only  restriction  put  upon  his  voyage 
was,  that  he  should  avoid  the  coast  of  Guinea,  and  all 
other    places    included    in   the    recent    discoveries   of 
Portugal. 

7.  The  port  of  Palos  de  Moguer  was  fixed  upon  as  the 
place  of  ernbarcation.     The  community  of  that  town 
were  under  obligations,  for  some  misdemeanour,  to  serve 
the  crown  for  one  year  with  two  caravels.     Columbus 
received  an  order  upon  the  authorities  of  Palos,  to  fit  these 
caravels  for  sea  within  ten  days,  and  to  place  them  and 
their  crews  at  his  disposition. 

8.  Orders  were  issued  also,  commanding  the  inhabi 
tants  of  the  sea-board  of  Andalusia,  to  furnish  all  sup 
plies   and  assistance   to  the   expedition,   at  reasonable 
rates,  and  threatening  all  such  as  should  cause  any  im 
pediment  with  severe  penalties. 

9.  As  a  mark  of  particular  favour  to  Columbus,  Isa 
bella,  before  his  departure  from  the  court,  appointed  his  son 
Diego  page  to  Prince  Juan,  the  heir  apparent,  an  honour 
granted  only  to  the  sons  of  persons  of  distinguished  rank 
Thus  gratified  in  his   dearest  wishes,  Columbus  took 


28  LIFE   AND   VOYAGES 

leave  of  the  court  on  the  12th  of  May,  and  set  out  joyfully 
for  Palos. 

10.  Let  those  who  are  disposed  to  faint  under  dif 
ficulties  in  the  prosecution  of  any  great  and  worthy  un 
dertaking  remember,  that  eighteen  years  elapsed  after 
Columbus  conceived  his  enterprise,  before  he  was  en 
abled  to  carry  it  into  effect ;  that  the  most  of  that  time 
was  passed  in  almost  hopeless  solicitation,  amidst  pover 
ty,  neglect,  and  taunting  ridicule  ;  that  the  prime  of  his 
life  had  wasted  away  in  the  struggle ;  and  that,  when  his 
perseverance  was  finally  crowned  with  success,  he  was 
about  fifty-six  years  of  age.     His  example  should  teach 
the  enterprising  never  to  despair. 

11.  Columbus  was  received  with  open  arms  by  Juan 
Perez,  at  the  convent  of  La  Rabida.     The  zealous  friar 
accompanied  him  to  the  parochial  church  of  St.  George, 
in  Palos,  where  the  royal  order  for  the  caravels  was 
read  by  a  notary  public,  in  presence  of  the  authorities  of 
the  place. 

12.  Nothing  could  equal  the  astonishment  and  horror 
of  the  community,  when  they  learnt  the  nature  of  the 
expedition,  in  which  they  were  ordered  to  engage.     All 
the  frightful   tales   and  fables  with  which   ignorance 
and  superstition  are  prone  to  people  obscure  and  distant 
regions  were  conjured  up  concerning  the  unknown  parts 
of  the  deep,  and  the  boldest  seamen  shrunk  from  such  a 
wild  and  chimerical  cruise  into  the  wilderness  of  the  ocean. 

13.  Repeated  mandates  were  issued  by  the  sovereigns, 
ordering  the  magistrates  of  Palos,  and  the  neighbouring 
town  of  Moguer,  to  press  into  the  service  any  Spanish 
vessels  and  crews  they  might  think  proper,  and  threaten 
ing  severe  punishments  on  all  who  should  prove  refrac 
tory.     It  was   all  in  vain  ;    the   communities  of  those 
places  were  thrown  into  complete  confusion  ;  tumults 
and  altercations  took  place,  but  nothing  of  consequence 
was  effected. 

14.  At  length  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon,  the  wealthy  and 
enterprising  navigator  already  mentioned,  stepped  for 
ward  in  the  cause.     He  was  joined  by  his  brother  Vi 
cente  Yafiez  Pinzon,  who  was  likewise  an  able  navigator. 
They  supplied  Columbus  with  funds  to  pay  the  eighth 


OF   COLUMBUS.  29 

part  of  the  expense,  which  he  had  engaged  to  advance ; 
and  furnished  two  of  the  vessels  required.  They,  more 
over,  agreed  to  sail  in  the  expedition. 

15.  The  example  and  persuasions  of  the  Pinzons  had 
a  wonderful  effect ;  for  they  were  related  to  many  of  the 
seafaring  people  of  the  neighbourhood,  and  had  great  in 
fluence  among  them.    Many  of  their  relations  and  friends 
agreed  to  embark,  and  the  two  vessels  were  ready  for 
sea  within  a  month. 

16.  The  third  vessel  was  slower  in  its  equipment.     It 
had  been  pressed  into  the  service  against  the  will  of  the 
owners  and  the  crew,  who  were  strongly  repugnant  to 
the  voyage.     These  people  did  all  they  could  to  throw 
obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  voyage,  and  prevent  the  sail 
ing  of  the  ships,  so  that  Columbus  had  to  use  harsh  and 
arbitrary  measures  with  them.     At  length  all  difficulties 
were  vanquished,  and,  by  the  beginning  of  August,  the 
vessels  were  ready  to  sail. 

17.  After  all  the  objections  made  by  various  courts  to 
undertake  this  expedition,  it  is  surprising  how  inconside 
rable  was  the  armament  required.     Two  of  the  vessels 
were  light  barques,  called  caravels,  not  superior  to  river 
and  coasting  craft  of  modern  days.     They  were  built 
high  at  the  prow  and  stern,  with  forecastles  and  cabins 
for  the  crew,  but  were  without  deck  in  the  centre. 

18.  Only  one  of  the  three,  called  the  Santa  Maria,  was 
completely  decked,  on  board  of  which  Columbus  hoisted 
his  flag.     Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon  commanded  one  of  the 
caravels,  called  the  Pinta,  and  was  accompanied  by  his 
brother,  Francisco  Martin,  as  mate  or  pilot.     The  other, 
called  the  Nina,*  had  latine  sails,  and  was  commanded 
by  Vicente  Yafiez  Pinzon.     The  whole  number  of  per 
sons  embarked  was  one  hundred  and  twenty. 

19.  The  squadron  being  ready  to  put  to  sea,  Columbus 
confessed  himself  to  the  Friar  Juan  Perez,  and  partook 
of  the  communion  ;  and  his  example  was  followed  by  Cie 
officers  and  crews,  committing  themselves,  with  devout 
ceremonials,  to  the  especial  guidance  and  protection  of 
heaven,  in  this  perilous  enterprise. 

"*  Pronounced  Ninya.  The  fi  is  always  pronounced  as  if  followed  by  p. 

3* 


30  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

20.  A  deep  gloom  was  spread  over  the  whole  commu 
nity  of  Palos,  for  almost  eveiy  one  had  some  relation  or 
friend  on  board  of  the  squadron.  The  spirits  of  the  sea 
men,  already  depressed  by  their  own  fears,  were  still 
more  cast  down,  at  beholding-  the  affliction  of  those  they 
left  behind,  who  took  leave  of  them  with  tears  and  lamen 
tations,  as  of  men  they  were  never  to  behold  again. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Events  of  the  first  Voyage. 

1.  IT  was  early  in  the  morning  of  Friday  the  3d  of 
August,  1492,  that  Columbus  put  to  sea,  steering  for  the 
Canary  Islands,  from  whence  he  intended  to  strike  due 
west. 

2.  As  a  guide  by  which  to  sail,  he  had  a  chart,  on 
which  the  coasts  of  Europe  and  Africa  were  laid  down  as 
known  to  geographers  ;  and  opposite  to  them  were  placed 
the  shores  of  Asia,  -according  to  the  description  of  Marco 
Polo  ;  with  the  intervening  island  of  Cipango,  (or  Ja 
pan,)  at  which  Columbus  expected  first  to  arrive,  as  at 
a  resting  place. 

3.  On  the  third  day  after  setting  sail*  the  Pin'ta  made 
signal  of  distress,  her  rudder  being  broken  and  unhung. 
Columbus  was  much  disturbed  at  the  occurrence.     He 
suspected  it  to  have  been  done  through  the  contrivance 
of  the  owners,  and  feared  further  difficulties  from  that 
quarter. 

4.  For  three  weeks  he  cruised  among  the  Canary 
islands,  in  hopes  of  finding  some  other  vessel  to  replace 
the  Pinta  ;  but  not  meeting  with  any,  he  had  her  repair 
ed,  and  furnished  with  a  new  rudder. 

5.  While  making  these  repairs,  and  taking  in  wood 
and  water,  news  came  that  three  Portuguese  caravels 
had  been  seen  hovering  off  the  island  of  Ferro.     Colum 
bus,  who  was  tremblingly  alive  to  any  thing  that  might 
impede  his  expedition,  feared  that  those  vessels  might 
be  sent  in  pursuit  of  him  by  the  king  of  Portugal. 


OF    COLUMBUS.  31 

5.  Eager  to  get  far  upon  the  ocean,  out  of  sight 
either  of  land  or  sail,  he  put  to  sea  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  6th  of  September,  but  for  three  days  was  tantalized 
by  a  profound  calm,  which  detained  him  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  island.  At  length,  on  the  9th,  a  breeze 
sprung  up  with  the  sun,  and  in  the  course  of  the  day,  the 
heights  of  Ferro  gradually  faded  from  the  horizon. 

7.  On  losing  sight  of  this  last  trace  of  land,  the  hearts 
of  the  crews  failed  them,  for  they  seemed  to  have  taken 
leave  of  the  world.     Behind  them  was  every  thing  dear 
to  the  heart  of  man — country,  family,  friends,  life  itself; 
before  them  every  thing  was  chaos,  mystery,  and  peril. 
Many  of  the  rugged  seamen  shed  tears,  and  some  broke 
into  loud  lamentations. 

8.  Columbus  tried  to  soothe  them  by  splendid  accounts 
of  the  countries  he  expected  to  discover ;  promising  them 
riches,  estates,  and  all  manner  of  delights ;  nor  were 
these  promises  made  for  purposes  of  deception,  for  he 
certainly  believed  he  would  realize  them  all. 

9.  Foreseeing  that  the  vague  terrors  already  awaken 
ed  would  increase  the  farther  they  thought  themselves 
from  land,  he  determined  to  keep  his  crews  ignorant  of 
the  real  distance  they  advanced.     He  kept,  therefore, 
two  reckonings  of  the  sailing  of  the  ships  ;  one  private 
and  correct,  for  his  own  use ;  the  other  open  to  general 
inspection,  in  which  a  number  of  leagues  was  subtracted 
from  each  day's  progress. 

10.  When  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  leagues  west 
of  Ferro,  they  fell  in  with  a  part  of  a  mast  of  a  large  ves 
sel,  and  the  crews,  easily  dismayed  by  every  portent, 
looked  with  a  rueful  eye  upon  this  fragment  of  a  wreck, 
drifting  ominously  at  the  entrance  of  these  unknown  seas. 

11.  On  the  13th  of  September,  in  the  evening,  Co 
lumbus,  for  the  first  time,  noticed  the  variation  of  the 
needle,  a  phenomenon  which  had  never  before  been  re 
marked.     He  at  first  made  no  mention  of  it,  lest  his  peo 
ple  should  be  alarmed ;  but  it  soon  attracted  the  attention 
of  the  pilots,  arid  filled  them  with  consternation. 

12.  They  apprehended  that  the  compass  was  about  to 
lose  its  mysterious  virtues  ;  and,  without  this  guide,  what 
was  to  become  of  them  in  a  vast  and  trackless  ocean  1 


32  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

Columbus  tasked  his  science  and  ingenuity  for  reasons 
with  which  to  allay  their  terrors. 

13.  He  told  them  that  the  direction  of  the  needle  was 
not  to  the  polar  star,  but  to  some  fixed  and  invisible 
point.     The  variation,  therefore,  was  not  caused  by  any 
fallacy  in  the  compass,  but  by  the  movement  of  the  north 
star  itself,  which,  like  the  other  heavenly  bodies,  had  its 
changes  and  revolutions,  and  every  day  described  a  circle 
round  the  pole.     The  high  opinion  they  entertained  of 
Columbus  as  a  profound  astronomer  gave  weight  to  his 
theory,  and  their  alarm  subsided. 

14.  They  had  now  arrived  within  the  influence  of  the 
trade  wind,  which,  following  the  sun,  blows  steadily  from 
east  to  west  between  the  tropics,  and  sweeps  over  a  few 
adjoining  degrees  of  the  ocean.     With  this  propitious 
breeze  directly  aft,  they  were  wafted  gently  but  speedily 
over  a  tranquil  sea,  so  that  for  many  days  they  did  not 
shift  a  sail. 

15.  Columbus  in  his  journal  perpetually  rec-urs  to  the 
bland  and  temperate  serenity  of  the  weather,  and  com 
pares  the  pure  and  balmy  mornings  to  those  of  April  in 
Andalusia,  observing,  that  the  song  of  the  nightingale 
was  alone  wanting  to  complete  the  illusion. 

16.  They  now  began  to  see  large  patches  of  herbs  and 
weeds  all  drifting  from  the  west.     Some  were  such  as 
grow  about  rocks  or  in  rivers,  and  as  green  as  if  recently 
washed  from  the  land.    On  one  of  the  patches  was  a  live 
crab.     They  saw  also  a  white  tropical  bird,  of  a  kind 
which  never  sleeps  upon  the  sea ;  and  tunny  fish  played 
about  the  ships. 

17.  As  they  advanced,  various  other  signs  gave  ani 
mation  to  the  crews.     Many  birds  were  seen  flying  from 
the  west ;  there  was  a  cloudiness  in  the  north,  such  as 
often  hangs  over  land  ;  and  at  sunset  the  imagination  of 
the  seamen,  aided  by  their  desires,  would  shape  those 
clouds  into  distant  islands.     Every  one  was  eager  to  be 
the  first  to  behold  and  announce  *the  wished-for  shore  ; 
for  the  sovereigns  had  promised  a  pension  of  thirty  crowns 
to  whomsoever  should  first  discover  land. 

18.  Columbus  sounded  occasionally  with  a  line  of  two 
hundred  fathoms,  but  found  no  bottom.     Martin  Alonzo 

' 


OF   COLUMBUS.  38 

Pmzon,  as  well  as  others  of  his  officers,  and  many  of  the 
seamen,  were  often  solicitous  for  Columbus  to  alter  his 
course,  aad  steer  in  the  direction  of  these  favourable 
signs  ;  but  he  persevered  in  steering1  to  the  westward, 
trusting  that,  by  keeping  in  one  steady  direction,  he 
should  reach  the  coast  of  India,  even  if  he  should  miss 
the  intervening  islands. 

19.  Notwithstanding  the  precaution  which  had  been 
taken  to  keep  the  people  ignorant  of  the  distance  they 
sailed,  they  gradually  became  uneasy  at  the  length  of 
the  voyage.     They  had  advanced  much  farther  to  the 
west  than  ever  man  had  sailed  before,  and  though  already 
beyond  the  reach  of  succour,  were  still  pressing  onward 
and  onward  into  that  apparently  boundless  abyss. 

20.  Even  the  favourable  wind,  which  seemed  as  if 
providentially  sent  to  waft  them  to  the  new  world  with 
bland  and  gentle  breezes,  was  conjured  by  their  fears  into 
a  source  of  alarm.     They  feared  that  the  wind  in  these 
seas  might  always  prevail  from  the  east,  and  if  so,  would 
never  permit  their  return  to  Spain. 

21.  A  few  light  breezes  from  the  west  allayed  for  a 
time  their  last  apprehension,  and  several  small  birds, 
such  as  keep  about  groves  and  orchards,  came  singing  in 
the  morning,  and  flew  away  at  night.     Their  song  was 
wonderfully  cheering  to  the  hearts  of  the  poor  mariners, 
who  hailed  it  as  the  voice  of  land.     The  birds  they  had 
hitherto  seen  had  been  large  and  strong  of  wing  ;  but 
such  small  birds,  they  observed,  were  too  feeble  to  fly 
far,  and  their  singing  showed  that  they  were  not  ex 
hausted  by  their  flight. 

22.  On  the  following  day  there  was  a  profound  calm. 
The  sea,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  was  covered  with 
those  submarine  weeds  which  are  detached  by  currents 
from  the  bottom,  of  the  ocean,  so  that  it  had  the  appear 
ance  of  a  vast  inundated  meadow. 

23.  The  seamen  now  feared  that  the  sea  was  growing 
shallow,  or  might  have  snoals,  and  rocks,  and  quick 
sands.      They    dreaded   lest,   their    vessels   should    be 
stranded  as  it  were,  in  mid-ocean,  far  out  of  the  track 
of  human  aid,  and  with  no  shore  where  the  crews  could 
take   refuge.      Columbus   proved  the    fallacy  of  this 


34  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

alarm,  by  sounding  with  a  deep  sea-line,  and  finding-  no 
bottom. 

24.  For  three  days  there  was  a  continuance  of  light 
summer  airs,  from  the  southward  and  westward,  and  the 
sea  was  as  smooth  as  a  mirror.     The  crews  now  became 
uneasy  at  the  calmness  of  the  weather.     They  observed 
that  the  contrary  winds  they  experienced  were  transient 
and  unsteady,  and  so  light  as  not  to  ruffle  the  surface  of 
the  sea ;  the  only  winds  of  constancy  and  force  were 
from  the  east,  and  even  those  had  not  power  to  disturb 
the  torpid  stillness  of  the  ocean  :  there  was  a  risk,  there 
fore,  either  of  perishing  amidst  shoreless  waters,  or  of 
being  prevented,  by  contrary  winds,  from  ever  returning 
to  their  native  country. 

25.  Columbus  continued,  with  admirable  patience,  to 
reason  with  these  absurd  fancies,  but  in  vain ;  when  for 
tunately  there  came  on  a  heavy  swell  of  the  sea,  unac 
companied  by  wind,  a  phenomenon  that  often  occurs  in 
the  broad  ocean,  caused  by  the  impulse  of  some  past  gale, 
or  distant  current  of  wind.     It  was,  nevertheless,  regard 
ed  with  astonishment  by  the  mariners,  and  dispelled  the 
imaginary  terrors  occasioned  by  the  calm. 

26.  The  situation  of  Columbus  was  daily  becoming 
more  and  more  critical.     The  impatience  of  the  seamen 
rose  to  absolute  mutiny.     They  exclaimed  against  him 
as  an  ambitious  desperado,  bent  upon  doing  something 
extravagant  to  render  himself  notorious. 

27.  What  obligation  bound  them  to  continue  on  ?  They 
had  already  penetrated  into  seas  where  man  had  never 
before  adventured.  Were  they  to  sail  on  until  they  should 
all  perish,  or  return  with  their  frail  ships  be  impossible  ] 
Who  would  blame  them  should  they  consult  their  own 
safety  ]    The  admiral  was  a  foreigner,  without  friends  ; 
his  scheme  had  been  condemned  by  the  learned  ;  there 
was  no  party  in  his  favour,  and  many  who  would  be  grati 
fied  by  his  failure. 

28.  Some  even  went  so  far  as  to  propose,  that  they 
should  throw  him  into  the  sea,  and  give  out  that  he  had 
fallen  overboard  while  contemplating  the  stars  with  his 
astronomical  instruments.     Columbus  was  not  ignorant 
of  these  cabals,  but  he  kept  a  serene  and  steadfast  caiuim 


OF    COLUMBUS.  35 

tenance,  soothing  some  with  gentle  words,  stimulating 
the  pride  or  the  avarice  of  others,  and  openly  menacing 
the  most  refractory  with  punishment. 

29.  On  the  25th  of  September,  new  hopes  arose  to 
divert  the  public  discontent.     Martin  Alonzo   Pinzon, 
mounting  on  the  stern  of  his  vessel,  shouted,  "  Land ! 
land  !  Sefior,  I  claim  the  reward."     There  was,  indeed, 
such  an  appearance  of  land  in  the  south-west,  that  Co 
lumbus  himself  was  persuaded  of  the  fact. 

30.  Throwing  himself  upon  his  knees,  he  gave  thanks 
to  God,  and  all  the  crews  joined  in  chanting  Gloria  in 
excelsis.     Altering  the  course  of  the  ships,  they  stood  all 
night  for  the  promised  shore,  but  the  morning  light  put 
an  end  to  their  hopes  as  to  a  dream  ;  the  fancied  land 
proved  nothing  but  an  evening  cloud,  and  had  vanished 
in  the  night. 

31.  By  the  7th  of  October,  they  had  come  seven  hun 
dred  and  fifty  leagues,  the  distance  at  which  Columbus 
had  computed  to  find  the  island  of  Cipango.     Signs  of 
land  had  multiplied  for  several  days  past.     There  were 
now  great  flights  of  small  field  birds  to  the  south-west, 
which  seemed  to  indicate  some  neighbouring  land  in 

hat  direction,  were  they  were  sure  of  food  and  a  rest- 
ing-place. 

32.  Yielding  to  the  solicitations  of  Martin  Alonzo 
Pinzon,  and  his  brothers,  Columbus,  on  the  evening  of 
the  7th,  altered  his  course  to  the  west  south-west.     As 
he  advanced,  the  signs  of  land  increased  ;  the  birds  came 
singing  about  the  ships  ;  and  herbage  floated  by  as  fresh 
and  green  as  if  recently  from  shore.     When,  however, 
on  the  evening  of  the  third  day  of  this  new  course,  the 
seamen  beheld  the  sun  go  down  upon  a  shoreless  horizon, 
they  again  broke  forth  into  loud  clamours,  and  insisted 
upon  abandoning  the  voyage. 

33.  Columbus  endeavoured  to  pacify  them  by  gentle 
words  and  liberal  promises  ;  but,  finding  these  only  in 
creased  their  violence,  he  assumed  a  different  tone,  and 
told  them  it  was  useless  to  murmur  ;  the  expedition  had 
been  sent  by  the  sovereigns  to  seek  the  Indies,  and,  Imp- 
pen  what  might,  he  was  determined  to  persevere,  until,  by 
the  blessing  of  God,  he  should  accomplish  the  enterprise. 


36  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

34.  He  was  now  at  open  defiance  with  his  crew,  and 
his  situation  would  have  been  desperate,  but,  fortunately, 
the  manifestations  of  land  on  the  following  day  were  such 
as  no  longer  to  admit  of  doubt.     A  green  fish,  such  as 
keeps  about  rocks,  swam  by  the  ships  ;  and  a '  branch  of 
thorn,  with  berries  on  it,  floated  by  :  they  {ticked  up, 
also,  a  reed,  a  small  board,  and,  above  all,  a  staff  artificial 
ly  carved.     All  gloom  and  murmuring  was  now  at  an 
end,  and  throughout  the  day  each  one  was  on  the  watch 
for  the  long-sought  land. 

35.  In  the  evening,  when,  according  to  custom,  the 
mariners  had  sung  the  vesper  hymn  to  the  virgin,  Co 
lumbus  made  an  impressive  address  to  his  crew,  pointing 
out  the  goodness  of  God  in  thus  conducting  them  by  soft 
and  favouring  breezes  across  a  /  tranquil  ocean  to  the 
promised  land. 

36.  He  expressed  a  strong  confidence  of  making  land 
that   very  night,  and  ordered  that  a  vigilant  look-out 
should  be  kept  from  the  forecastle,  promising  to  whom 
soever  should  make  the  discovery  a  doublet  of  velvet,  in 
addition  to  the  pension  to  be  given  by  the  sovereigns. 

37.  The  breeze  had  been  fresh  all  day,  with  more  sea 
than  usual ;  at  sunset  they  stood  again  to  the  west,  and 
were  ploughing  the  waves  at  a  rapid  rate,  the  Pinta 
keeping  the   lead   from    her   superior  sailing.       The 
greatest  animation  prevailed  throughout  the  ships ;  not 
an  eye  was  closed  that  night.     As  the  evening  darkened, 
Columbus  took  his  station  on  the  top  of  the  castle  or 
cabin  on  the  high  stern  of  his  vessel,  where  he  maintain 
ed  an  intense  and  unremitting  watch. 

38.  Suddenly,  about  ten  o'clock,  bethought  he  beheld 
*  light  glimmering  at  a  distance.     Fearing  that  his  eager 
hopes  might  deceive  him,  he  called  to  one  of  his  officers 
named  Pedro  Gutierrez,  and  demanded  whether  he  saw 
a  light  in  that  direction  ;  the  latter  replied  in  the  affirma 
tive.     Columbus,  yet  doubtful  whether  it  might  not  be 
some  delusion  of  the  fancy,  called  Rodrigo  Sanchez  of 
Segovia,  and  made  the  same  inquiry.     By  the  time  the 
latter  had  ascended  the  round-house,  the  light  had  dis 
appeared. 

39.  They  saw  it  once  or  twice  afterwards  in  sudden 


OF   COLUMBUS.  37 

and  passing  gleams,  as  if  it  were  a  torch  in  the  bark  of  a 
fisherman,  rising  and  sinking  with  the  waves  ;  or  in  the 
hands  of  some  person  on  shore,  borne  up  and  down  as  he 
walked  from  house  to  house.  So  transient  and  uncer 
tain  were  these  gleams,  that  few  attached  any  importance 
to  them;  Columbus,  however,  considered  them  as 
certain  signs  of  land,  and,  moreover,  that  the  land  was 
inhabited. 

40.  .They  continued  on  their  course  until  two  in  the 
morning,  when  a  gun  from  the  Pinta  gave  the  joyful  sig 
nal  of  land,  which  was  first  descried  by  a  mariner  named 
Rodriguez  Bermejo.*     It  was  soon  after  clearly  seen 
about  two  leagues  distant,  whereupon  they  took  in  sail, 
and  laid  to,  waiting  impatiently  for  the  dawn. 

41.  The  thoughts  and  feelings  of  Columbus  in  this 
little  space  of  time  must  have  been  tumultuous  and  in 
tense.    At  length,  in  spite  of  every  difficulty  and  danger, 
he  had  accomplished  his  object.     The  great  mystery  ot 
the  ocean  was  revealed  ;  his  theory,  which  had  been  the 
scoff  of  sages,  was  triumphantly  established ;    he  had 
secured  to  himself  a  glory  which  must  be  as  durable  as 
the  world  itself. 

42.  It  is  difficult  even  for  the  imagination  to  conceive 
the  feelings  of  such  a  man,  at  the  moment  of  so  sublime 
a  discovery.     What  a  crowd  of  conjectures  must  have 
thronged  upon  his  mind,  as  to  the  land  which  lay  before 
him,  covered  with  darkness  !    That  it  was  fruitful  was 
evident  from  the  vegetables  which  floated  from  its  shores. 
He  thought,  too,  that  he  perceived  in  the  balmy  air  the 
fragrance  of  aromatic  groves.     The  moving  light  which 
he  had  beheld,  proved  that  it  was  the  residence  of  man. 

43.  But  what  were  its  inhabitants  1  Were  they  like 
those  of  other  parts  of  the  globe ;  or  were  they  some 
strange  and  monstrous  race,  such  as  the  imagination  in 
those  times  was  prone  to  give  to  all  remote  and  unknown 
regions  ?  Had  he  come  upon  some  wild  island,  far  in  the 
Indian  seas  ;  or  was  this  the  famed  Cipango  itself,  the 
object  of  his  golden  fancies  1 

44.  A  thousand  speculations  of  the  kind  must  have 

*  Pronounced  Bcrmcho. 

4 


38  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

swarmed  upon  him,  as  he  watched  for  the  night  to  pass 
away  ;  wondering  whether  the  morning  light  would  re 
veal  a  savage  wilderness,  or  dawn  upon  spicy  groves, 
and  glittering  fanes,  and  gilded  cities,  and  all  the  splen 
dours  of  oriental  civilization. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

First  landing  of  Columbus  in  the  New  World.  Cruise 
among  the  Bahama  Islands.  Discovery  of  Cuba  and 
Hispaniola.  [1492.] 

1.  WHEN  the  day  dawned,  Columbus  saw  before  him 
a  level  and  beautiful  island,  several  leagues  in  extent,  of 
great  freshness  and  verdure,  and  covered  with  trees  like 
a  continual  orchard.      It   was  evidently  populous,   for 
the    inhabitants  were  seen   issuing   from   the  woods, 
and  running  from  all  parts  to  the  shore.     They  were 
all  perfectly  naked,  and,  from  their  attitudes  and  ges 
tures,  appeared  lost  in  astonishment  at  the  sight  of  the 
ships. 

2.  Columbus  made  signal  to  cast  anchor,  and  to  man 
the  boats.     He  entered  his  own  boat,  richly  attired  in 
scarlet,  and  bearing  the  royal  standard.     Martin  Alonzo 
Pinzon,  and  Vincente  Yafiez  his  brother,  likewise  put  off 
in  their  boats,  each  bearing  the  banner  of  the  enterprise 
emblazoned  with   a  green  cross,  having  on  each  side 
the  letters  F  and  Y,  surmounted  by  crowns,  the  Span- 
nish  initials  of  the  Castilian  monarchs,  Fernando  and 
Ysabel. 

3.  As  they  approached  the  shores,  they  were  delight 
ed  by  the  beauty  and  grandeur  of  the  forests  ;  the  variety 
of  unknown   fruits  on  the  trees  which   overhung  the 
shores  ;  the  purity  and  softness  of  the  atmosphere,  and 
the  crystal  transparency  of  the  sea. 

4.  On   landing,   Columbus  threw   himself  upon  his 
knees,  kissed  the  earth,  and  returned  thanks  to   God 
with  tears  of  joy.     Then  rising,  he  drew  his  sword,  dis 
played  the  royal  standard,  and  took  possession  in  the 


Landing  of  Columbus. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  39 

names  of  the  Castilian  sovereigns,  giving  the  island  the 
name  of  San  Salvador.  He  then  called  upon  all  present 
to  take  the  oath  of  obedience  to  him  as  admiral  and  vice 
roy,  and  representative  of  the  sovereigns. 

5.  His  followers  now  burst  forth  into  the  most  ex 
travagant  transports,  some  embracing  him,  others  kissing 
his  hands.     Those  who  had  been  most  mutinous  and 
turbulent,  were  now  most  devoted.  Some  begged  favours 
of  him,  as  of  a  man  who  had  already  wealth  and  honours 
in  his  gift.     Many  abject  spirits,  who  had  outraged  him 
by  their  insolence,  now  crouched  at  his  feet,  begging  his 
forgiveness,  and  offering  for  the  future  the  blindest  obe 
dience  to  his  commands. 

6.  The  natives,  when,  at  the  dawn  of  day,  they  had 
beheld  the  ships  hovering  on  the  coast,  had  supposed 
them  some  monsters,  which  had  issued  from  the  deep 
during  the  night.     Their  veering  about,  without  any 
apparent  effort,  and  the  shifting  and  furling  of  their  sails, 
resembling  huge  wings,  filled  them  with  astonishment. 

7.  When  they  beheld  the  boats  approach  the  shore, 
and  a  number  of  strange  beings,  clad  in  glittering  steel, 
or  raiment  of  various  colours,  landing  upon  the  beach, 
they  fled  in  affright  to  the  woods.     Finding,  however, 
that  there  was  no  attempt  to  pursue  or  molest  them,  the}' 
gradually  recovered  from  their  terror,  and  approached 
the  Spaniards  with  great  awe,  frequently  prostrating 
themselves,  and  making  signs  of  adoration. 

8.  During  the  ceremony  of  taking  possession,  they 
remained  gazing,  in  timid  admiration,  at  the  complexion, 
the  beards,  the  shining  armour,  .and  splendid  dress  of  the 
Spaniards.     The  admiral  particularly  attracted  their  at 
tention,  from  his  commanding  height,  his  air  of  authority, 
his  scarlet  dress,  and  the  deference  paid  to  him  by  his 
companions. 

9.  When  they  had  still  further  recovered  from  their 
fears,   they  approached  the   Spaniards,  touched   their 
beards,  and  examined  their  hands  and  faces,  admiring 
their  whiteness.    Columbus,  pleased  with  their  confiding 
simplicity  and  gentleness,  submitted  to  their  scrutiny 
with  perfect  acquiescence. 

10.  The  wondering  savages  were  won  by  this  benig- 


40  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

ttity ;  they  now  supposed  that  the  ships  had  sailed  out 
of  the  crystal  firmament  which  bounded  their  horizon, 
or  had  descended  from  above,  on  their  ample  wings,  and 
that  these  marvellous  beings  were  natives  of  the  skies. 

11.  The  people  of  the  island  were  no  less  objects  of 
curiosity  to  the  Spaniards,  differing,  as  they  did,  from 
any  race  of  men  they  had  ever  seen.     They  were  en 
tirely  naked,  of  a  moderate  stature,  well  shaped,  of  a 
copper  hue,  with  agreeable  features,  lofty  foreheads,  and 
fine  eyes.     Their  hair  was  coarse  and  straight ;  they  had 
no  beards,  and  were  painted  with  a  variety  of  colours. 

12.  They  appeared  to  be  a  simple  and  artless  people, 
and  of  gentle  and  friendly  dispositions.     Their  only  arms 
were  lances,  hardened  at  the  end  by  fire,  or  pointed  with 
a  flint  or  the  bone  of  a  fish.     Columbus  distributed  among 
them  coloured  caps,  glass  beads,  hawk's  bells,  and  other 
trifles,  which  they  received  as  inestimable  gifts,  and,  de 
corating  themselves  with  them,  were  wonderfully  de 
lighted  with  their  finery. 

13.  The  island  was  called  by  the  natives  Guanahani, 
and  is  one  of  the  Bahama  islands.     Columbus  supposed 
it  to  be  at  the  extremity  of  India,  and  therefore  called 
the  inhabitants  Indians,  an  appellation  which  has  since 
been  extended  to  all  the  aboriginals  of  the  new  world. 

14.  The  Spaniards  remained  all  day  on  shore,  refresh 
ing  themselves  among  the  beautiful  groves,  and  returned 
to  their  ships  late  in  the  evening,  delighted  with  all  they 
had  seen. 

15.  On  the  following  morning,  at  daybreak,  some  of 
the  natives  came  swimming  off  to  the  ships,  and  others 
in  canoes,  formed  of  a  single  tree,  and  capable  of  holding 
from  one  man  to  the  number  of  forty  or  fifty.     They  had 
little  to  offer,  in  return  for  trinkets,  except  balls  of  cotton 
yarn,  domesticated  parrots,  and  cakes  of  a  kind  of  bread 
called  cassava,  made  from  the  yuca  root,  which  consti 
tuted  a  principal  part  of  their  food. 

16.  The  avarice  of  the  discoverers  was  awakened  by 
perceiving  small  ornaments  of  gold  in  the  noses  of  some 
of  the  natives.     On  being  asked  where  this  precious 
metal  was  procured,  they  answered  by  signs,  pointing  to 
the  south ;  and  Columbus  understood  them  to  say,  that 


OP    COLUMBUS.  41 

a  king  resided  in  that  quarter,  who  was  served  in  great 
vessels  of  gold. 

17.  He  interpreted  every  thing  according  to  his  pre 
vious  ideas  derived  from  the  work  of  Marco  Polo,  and 
supposed  the  rich  island  to  the  south  to  be  Cipango,  and 
the  king  who  was  served  out  of  golden  vessels,  to  be  its 
monarch,  whose  palace  was  said  to  be  covered  with 
plates  of  gold.     As  soon,  therefore,  as  he  had  taken  in  a 
supply  of  wood  and  water,  he  set  sail  in  quest  of  this  opu 
lent  island ;  taking  seven  of  the  natives  with  him  to  ac 
quire  the  Spanish  language,  and  serve  as  interpreters 
and  guides. 

18.  He  now  beheld  a  number  of  beautiful  islands, 
green,  level,  and  fertile,  which  he  supposed  to  be  part  of 
the  Archipelago  described  by  Marco  Polo  as  stretching 
along  the  coast  of  ^sia,  and  abounding  with  spices  and 
odoriferous  trees. 

19.  The  inhabitants  approached  the  Spaniards  with 
offerings  of  fruits,  and  birds,  and  cotton,  regarding  them 
as  super-human  beings.     When  they  landed  in  quest  of 
water,  they  took  them  to  the  coolest  springs,  and  sweet 
est  and  freshest  runs,  filling  their  casks,  rolling  them  to 
the  boats,  and  seeking  in  every  way  to  gratify  them. 

20.  Columbus  was  enchanted  by  the  lovely  scenery  of 
these  islands.     "I  know  not,"  says  he,  "where  first  to 
go,  nor  are  my  eyes  ever  weary  of  gazing  on  the  beauti 
ful  verdure.     The  singing  of  the  birds  is  such,  that  it 
seems  as  if  one  would  never  desire  to  depart  hence. 
There  are  flocks  of  parrots  that  obscure  the  sun,  and 
other  birds  of  many  kinds,  large  and  small,  entirely  dif 
ferent  from  ours.     Trees,  also,  of  a  thousand  species, 
each  having  its  particular  fruit. 

21.  The  fish  also  partook  of  the  novelty  which  char 
acterized  most  of  the  objects  in  this  new  world,  and 
rivalled  the  birds  in  the  brilliancy  of  their  colours.     The 
scales  of  some  glanced  back  the  rays  of  light  like  precious 
stones,  and  as  they  sported  about  the  ships,  they  flashed 
gleams  of  gold  and  silver  through  the  crystal  waves. 

22.  Columbus  was  disappointed  in  his  hopes  of  finding 
gold  or  spices  in  these  islands  ;  but  the  natives  continued 
to  point  to  the  south,  and  spoke  of  an  island  in  that  di- 

4* 


42  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

rection,  called  Cuba,  which,  the  Spaniards  understood 
them  to  say,  abounded  in  gold,  pearls,  and  spices,  and 
carried  on  an  extensive  commerce,  and  that  large  mer 
chant  ships  came  to  trade  with  the  inhabitants. 

23.  Columbus  concluded  this  to  be  the  desired  Cipan- 
go,  and  the  merchant  ships  to  be  those  of  the  Grand 
Khan.     He  set  sail  in  search  of  it,  therefore,  and  arrived 
in  sight  of  it  on  the  28th  October. 

24.  As  he  approached  this  noble  island,  he  was  struck 
with  the  grandeur  of  its  mountains,  its  fertile  valleys  and 
long  sweeping  plains,  covered  by  stately  forests,  and 
watered  by  noble  rivers.     He  anchored  in  a  beautiful 
river,  and  taking  formal  possession  of  the  island,  gave  it 
the  name  of  Juana,  in  honour  of  Prince  Juan,  and  to  the 
river  the  name  of  San  Salvador. 

25.  Columbus  spent  several  days  coasting  this  part  of 
the  island,  and  exploring  the  fine  harbours  and  rivers 
with  which  it  abounds.     In  the  sweet  smell  of  the  woods, 
and  the  odour  of  the  flowers,  he  fancied  he  perceived 
the  fragrance  of  oriental  spices,  and  along  the  shores  he 
found  shells  of  the  oyster  which  produces  pearls.     He 
frequently  deceived  himself,  in  fancying  that  he  heart! 
the  song  of  the  nightingale,  a  bird  unknown  in  these 
countries. 

26.  Ever  since  his  arrival  among  these  islands  he  had 
experienced  nothing  but  soft  and  gentle  weather ;  and 
he  observed  that  the  grass  grew  to  the  very  edge  of  the 
water,  as  if  never  molested  by  an  angry  surge.      He 
concluded,  therefore,  that  a  perpetual  serenity  reigned 
over  these  seas ;  little  suspicious  of  the  occasional  bursts 
of  fury  to  wThich  they  are  liable,  and  of  the  tremendous 
hurricanes  which  rend  and  devastate  the  face  of  na 
ture. 

27.  While  coasting  the  island,  he  landed  occasionally 
and  visited  the  villages,  the  inhabitants  of  which  fled  to 
the  woods  and  mountains.     The  houses  were  construct 
ed  of  branches  of  palm-trees,  in  the  shape  of  pavilions, 
and  were  scattered  under  the  spreading  trees,  like  tents 
in  a  camp.     He  found  in  them  rude  images,  and  wooden 
masks,   carved  with  considerable  ingenuity.     Finding 
implements  for  fishing  in  all  the  cabins,  he  concluded 


OF    COLUMBUS.  43 

that  the  coast  were  inhabited  merely  by  fishermen,  who 
supplied  the  cities  in  the  interior. 

28.  After  coasting  to  the  north-west  for  some  distance, 
Columbus  came  in  sight  of  a  great  head-land,  to  which, 
from  the  groves  which  covered  it,  he  gave  the  name  of 
the  Cape 'of  Palms. 

29.  Here,  from  misunderstanding  the  Indian  names, 
he  fancied  himself  on  the  main  land  of  Asia,  and  sent 
two  Spaniards,  one  of  them  a  Jew,  who  understood  ori 
ental  languages,  to  explore  the  interior  and  seek  the 
residence^  the  sovereign.     Two  Indians  were  sent  with 
them  as  guides,  and  they  were  well  supplied  with  beads 
and  other  trinkets  for  travelling  expenses. 

30.  After  penetrating  about  twelve  leagues  they  came 
to  a  large  village  of  about  a  thousand  souls.     The  In 
habitants  crowded  round  them,  examined  their  skins  and 
raiment,  and  kissed  their  heads  and  feet  in  token  of  ad 
miration.     Provisions  were  placed  before  them  in  the 
principal  house,  after  which  the  Indians  seated  them 
selves  round  them  on  the  ground,  and  waited  to  hear 
what  they  had  to  say. 

31.  The  Jew  found  his  oriental  languages  of  no  avail, 
and  the  ambassadors  had  to  make  all  their  communica- 
cations  through  an  Indian  interpreter.     They  found  that 
the  natives  had  neither  gold  nor  spices  to  offer,  and  knew 
of  no  great  inland  city ;  the  envoys,  therefore,  broke  up 
the  conference  and  returned  to  the  ships. 

32.  They  brought  back,  however,  intelligence  of  what 
doubtless  appeard  to  them  a  strange  and  savage  piece  of 
luxury.     They  had  remarked  several  Indians  with  cer 
tain  dried  herbs  rolled  up  in  a  leaf.     One  end  of  this  they 
put  in  their  mouths,  and  lighting  the  other  end  with  a  fire 
brand,  inhaled  and  puffed  out  the  smoke  with  great  ap 
parent  enjoyment.     A  roll  of  this  kind  they  called  a  to. 
bacco,  a  name  since  transferred  to  the  weed  itself. 

33.  As  fast  as  one  allusion  passed  away  from  the  mind 
of  Columbus,  another  succeeded.     He  was  undeceived 
as  to  the  supposed  prince  and  his  inland  city,  but  the 
Indians  now  pointing  to  the  eastward,  repeated  the  words 
Babeque  and  Bohio,  which  he  understood  to  be  islands  or 
provinces  where  the  people  collected  gold  along  the 


44  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

river  banks  by  torch  light,  and  wrought  it  into  bars  with 
hammers. 

34.  He  accordingly  ran  along  the  coast  of  Cuba  for 
two  or  three  days,  and  then  stood  out  to  sea  in  the  direc 
tion  pointed  out  by  the  Indians  to  find  Babeque,  which 
he  supposed  to  be  some  rich  and  civilized  island.     The 
wind,  however,  came  directly  ahead,  so  that,  after  seve 
ral  attempts  to  keep  on,  he  was  obliged  to  put  back  to 
Cuba. 

35.  He  made  signals  for  the  Pinta  to  do  the  same,  but 
they  were  not  attended  to  by  her  commander,  Martin 
Alonzo  Pinzon.     The  day  closed,  but  Columbus  con 
tinued  to  make  signals  during  the  night  by  lights  at  the 
mast  head.     They  were  equally  disregarded.     At  dawn 
of  day  the  Pinta  was  no  longer  to  be  seen. 

36.  Columbus  was  disquieted  at  this.     Pinzon  had  for 
some  time  shown  impatience  at  being  under  his  com 
mand.     He  was  a  veteran  navigator;  and  a  wealthy 
man  ;  and  having  furnished  two  of  the  vessels,  and  part 
of  the  funds  for  the  expedition,  seemed  to  think  him 
self  entitled  to  as  much  authority  and  importance  as  the 
admiral. 

37.  Columbus  considered  his  disappearance  a  wilful 
desertion.     He  feared  that  he  intended  to  make  a  cruise 
by  himself,  or  what  was  worse,  to  hasten  back  to  Spain 
and  claim  the  merit  of  this  grand  discovery.     These 
thoughts  distracted  his  mind,  and  impeded  him  in  the 
free  prosecution  of  his  voyage. 

38.  For  several  days  he  continued  exploring  the  coast 
of  Cuba,  until  he  reached  the  eastern  end,  to  which,  from 
supposing  it  the  extreme  point  of  Asia,  he  gave  the  name 
of  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end.  While 
steering  at  large  beyond  this  cape,  undetermined  what 
course  to  take,  he  "descried  high  mountains  towering 
above  the  clear  horizon  to  the  south-east,  and  giving 
evidence  of  an  island  of  great  extent.     He  immediately 
stood  for  it,  to  the  great  consternation  of  his  Indian 
guides,  who  assured  him  by  signs  that  the  inhabitants 
had  but  one  eye,  and  were  fierce  and  cruel  cannibals. 

39.  In  the  transparent  atmosphere  of  the  tropics,  ob 
jects  are  descried  at  a  great  distance,  and  the  purity  of 


OF   COLUMBUS.  45 

the  air  and  serenity  of  the  deep-blue  sky  give  a  magical 
charm  to  scenery.  Under  these  advantages,  the  beau 
tiful  island  of  Hayti  revealed  itself  to  the  eye  as  they 
approached. 

40.  Its  mountains  were  higher  and  more  rocky  than 
those  of  the  other  islands,  but  the  rocks  rose  from  among 
rich  forests.  The  mountains  swept  down  into  luxuriant 
plains  and  green  savannahs,  while  the  appearance  of 
cultivated  fields,  with  the  numerous  fires  at  night,  and 
the  columns  of  smoke  which  rose  in  various  parts  by  day, 
all  showed  it  to  be  populous.  It  rose  before  them  in  all 
the  splendour  of  tropical  vegetation,  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  islands  in  the  world,  and  doomed  to  be  one  of 
the  most  unfortunate. 


CHAPTER,  XII. 

Coasting  of  Hispaniola.     Shipwreck,  and  other  Occur 
rences  at  the  Island.  [1492.] 

1.  ON  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  December,  Columbus 
entered  a  harbour  at  the  western  end  of  the  island,  to 
which  he  gave  the  name  of  St.   Nicholas.     Not  being 
able  to  meet  with  any  of  the  inhabitants,  who  had  fled 
from  their  dwellings,  he  coasted  along  the  northern  side 
of  the   island  to  another  harbour,  which    he    called 
Conception. 

2.  Here  the  sailors  caught  several  kinds  offish  similar 
to  those  of  their  own  country  ;  they  heard  also  the  notes 
of  a  bird  which  sings  in  the  night,  and  which  they  mis 
took  for  the  nightingale,  and  they  fancied  that  the  features 
of  the  surrounding  country  resembled  those  of  the  more 
beautiful  provinces  of  Spain  :  in  consequence  of  this  idea, 
the  admiral  named  the  island  Espanola,  or,  as  it  is  com 
monly  written,  Hispaniola. 

3.  After  various  attempts  to  obtain  a  communication 
with  the  natives,  three  sailors  succeeded  in  overtaking  a 
young  and  handsome  female,  who  was  flying  from  them, 
and  brought  their  wild  beauty  in  triumph  to  the  ships. 
She  was  treated  with  the  greatest  kindness,  and  dismiss- 


46  LIFE   AND   VOYAGES 

ed  finely  clothed,  and  loaded  with  presents  of  beads, 
hawk's  bells,  and  other  baubles. 

4.  Confident  of  the  favourable  impression  her  treat 
ment,  and  the  sight  of  her  presents,  must  produce,  Co 
lumbus,  on  the  following-  day,  sent  nine  men,  with  an  in 
terpreter,  to  her  village  which  was  situated  in  a  fine 
valley,  on  the  banks  of  a  beautiful  river,  and  contained 
about  a  thousand  houses. 

5.  The  natives  fled  at  first,  but,  being  re-assured  by 
the  interpreter,  came  back  to  the  number  of  two  thou 
sand,  and   approached  the   Spaniards   with   awe   and 
trembling,  often  pausing  and  putting  their  hands  upon 
their  heads  in  token  of  reverence  and  submission. 

6.  The  female   also,  came  borne  in  triumph  on  the 
shoulders  of  her  countrymen,  followed  by  a  multitude, 
and  preceded  by  her  husband,  who  was  full  of  gratitude 
for  the  kindness  with  which  she  had  been  treated.     The 
natives  conducted  the  Spaniards  to  their  houses,  and  set 
before  them  cassava  bread,  fish,  roots,  and  fruits  of  various 
kinds  ;  for  a  frank  hospitality  reigned  throughout  the 
island,  where  as  yet  the  passion  of  avarice  was  unknown. 

7.  The  Spaniards  returned  to  the  vessels  enraptured 
with  the  beauty  of  the  country,  surpassing,  as  they  said, 
even  the  luxuriant  valley  of  Cordova ;  all  that  they  com 
plained  of  was,  that  they  saw  no  signs  of  riches  among 
the  natives. 

8.  Continuing  along  the  coast,  Columbus  was  visited 
by  a  young  cacique,  apparently  of  great  importance,  who 
came  borne  on  a  litter  by  four  men,  and  attended  by  two 
hundred  of  his  subjects.     He  entered  the  cabin  where 
the  admiral  was  dining,  and  took  his  seat  beside  him, 
with  a  frank  unembarrassed  air,  while  two  old  men,  who 
were   his  councillors,   seated   themselves   at  his   feet, 
watching  his  lips,  as  if  to  catch  and  communicate  his 
ideas. 

9.  If  any  thing  were  given  him  to  eat,  he  merely  tast 
ed  it,  and  sent  it  to  his  followers,  maintaining  an  air  of 
great  gravity  and  dignity.     After  dinner,  he  presented 
the  admiral  with  a  belt  curiously  wrought,  and  two  pieces 
of  gold.     Columbus  made  him  various  presents  in  return, 
and  showed  him  a  coin  bearing  the  likenesses  of  Fer- 


OF    COLUMBUS.  47 

dinand  and  Isabella,  endeavouring  to  give  him  an  idea  of 
the  power  and  grandeur  of  those  sovereigns.* 

10.  The  cacique,  however,  could  not  be  made  to  be 
lieve  that  there  was  a  region  on  earth  which  produced 
such  wonderful  people  and  wonderful  things,  but  persist 
ed  in  the  idea  that  the  Spaniards  were  more  than  mortal, 
and  that  the  country  and  sovereigns  they  spoke  of  must 
exist  somewhere  in  tho  skies. 

11.  On  the  20th  of  December,  Columbus  anchored  in 
a  fine  harbour,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  St.  Tho 
mas.     Here  a  large  canoe  visited  the  ships,  bringing 
messengers  from  a  chieftain  named  Guacanagari,  who 
resided  on  the  coast  a  little  farther  to  the  eastward, 
and  reigned  over  all  that  part  of  the  island.     The  mes 
sengers  bore  a  present  of  a  broad  be]t,  wrought  inge 
niously  with  coloured  beads  and  bones,  and  a  wooden 
mask,  the  eyes,  nose,  and  tongue  of  which  were  of  gold. 

12.  They  invited  Columbus,  in  the  name  of  the  cacique, 
to  come  with  his  ships  opposite  to  the  village  where  he 
resided.     Adverse  winds  prevented  an  immediate  com 
pliance  with  this  invitation ;  he  therefore  sent  a  boat  well 
armed,  with  the  notary  of  the  squadron,  to  visit  the  chief 
tain.     He  returned  with  favourable  accounts  of  the  ap 
pearance  of  the  village,  and  the  hospitality  of  the  cacique. 

13.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  24th  of  December, 
Columbus  weighed  anchor,  with  a  light  wind  that  scarcely 
filled  the  sails.  By  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  he  was  within 
a  league  and  a  half  of  the  residence  of  the  cacique  :  the 
sea  was  calm  and  smooth,  and  the  ship  almost  motionless. 
Having  had  no  sleep  the  preceding  night,  he  retired  to 
take  a  little  repose. 

14.  No  sooner  had  he  left  the  deck,  than  the  steers 
man  gave  the  helm  in  charge  to  one  of  the  ship-boys, 
and  went  to  sleep.     The  rest  of  the  mariners  on  duty 
followed  his  example,  and  in  a  little  while  the  whole 
crew  was  buried  in  sleep.     In  the  meantime  the  treach 
erous  currents,  which  run  swiftly  along  this  coast,  car 
ried  the  ship  smoothly,  but  with  great  violence,  upon  a 
sandbank.     The  boy,  feeling  the  rudder  strike,  and  hear 
ing  the  rushing  of  the  sea,  cried  out  for  aid.     Columbus 
was  the  first  to  take  the  alarm,  and  was  soon  followed  by 


48  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

the  master  of  the  ship,  and  his  delinquent  companions. 
The  admiral  ordered  them  to  carry  out  an  anchor  astern* 
that  they  might  warp  the  vessel  off. 

15.  They  sprang  into  the  boat,  but,  being  confused 
and  seized  with  a  panic,  instead  of  obeying  the  com 
mands  of  Columbus,  they  rowed  off  to  the  other  caravel. 
Vincente  Yaiiez  Pinzon,  who  commanded  the  latter,  re 
proached  them  with  their  cowardice,  and  refused  to  ad 
mit  them  on  board  ;  and,  manning  his  boat,  hastened  to 
the  assistance  of  the  admiral. 

16.  In  the  mean  time,  the  ship  swinging  across  the 
stream,  was  set  more  and  more  upon  the  bank.     Efforts 
were  made  to  lighten  her,  by  cutting  away  the  mast,  but 
in  vain.     The  keel  became  bedded  in  the  sand ;  the 
seams  opened,  and  the  breakers  beat  against  her,  until 
she  fell  over  on  one  side.     Fortunately,  the  weather  con 
tinued  calm,  otherwise  both  ship  and  crew  must  have 
perished.     The  admiral  abandoned  the  wreck,  and  took 
refuge,  with  his  men,  on  board  of  the  caravel.     He  lay 
to  until  daylight,  sending  messengers  on  shore  to  inform 
the  cacique  Guacanagari  of  his  disastrous  shipwreck. 

17.  When  the  chieftain  heard  of  the  misfortune  of  his 
guest,  he  was  so  much  afflicted  as  to  shed  tears ;  and 
never,  in  civilized  country,  were  the  rites  of  hospitality 
more  scrupulously  observed,   than   by   this  uncultured 
savage.     He  assembled  his  people,  and  sent  off  all  his 
canoes  to  aid  in  unloading  the  wreck.     The  effects  were 
landed,  and  deposited  near  his  dwelling,  and  a  guard  set 
over  them,  until  houses  could  be  prepared,  in  which  they 
could  be  stored. 

18.  There  seemed,  however,  no  disposition  among  the 
natives  to  pilfer  or  conceal  the  most  trifling  article.     On 
the  contrary,  they  manifested  as  deep  a  concern  as  if  the 
disaster  had  happened  to  themselves,   and  their  only 
study  was  how  they  could  administer  relief  and  consola 
tion.     Columbus  was  greatly  affected  by  this  unexpected 
goodness.     "  These  'people,"  said  he,  to  the  sovereigns, 
"  love  their  neighbours  as  themselves,  their  discourse  is 
ever  sweet  and  gentle,  and  accompanied  by  a  smile.     I 
swear  to  your  majesties  there  is  not  in  the  world  a  better 
nation  or  a  better  land." 


OF    COLUMBUS.  49 

19.  When  the  cacique  met  with  Columbus,  he  was 
much  moved  at  beholding-  his  dejection,  and  offered  him 
every  thing  he  possessed  that  could  be  of  service  to  him. 
He  invited  him  on  shore,  where  a  banquet  was  prepared 
for  his  entertainment,  consisting-  of  various  kinds  of  fish 
and  fruit,  and  an  animal  called  Utia  by  the  natives,  which 
resembled  a  coney.     After  the  collation,  he  conducted 
him  to  a  beautiful  grove,  where  upwards  of  a  thousand  of 
the  natives  were  assembled,  all  perfectly  naked,  who  per 
formed  several  of  their  games  and  dances. 

20.  When  the  Indians  had  finished  their  games,  Co 
lumbus  gave  them  an  entertainment  in  return,  calculated 
to  impress  them  with  a  formidable  opinion  of  the  military 
power  of  the  Spaniards.     A  Castilian,  who  had  served 
in  the  wars  of  Granada,  exhibited  his  skill  in  shooting- 
with  a  Moorish  bow,  to  the  great  admiration  of  the  ca 
cique.     A  cannon  and  an  arquebus  were  likewise  dis 
charged  ;  at  the  sound  of  which  the  Indians  fell  to  the 
ground,  as  though  they  had  been  struck  by  a  thunderbolt. 

21.  When  they  saw  the  effect  of  the  ball  rending  and 
shivering  the  trees,  they  were  filled  with  dismay.     On 
being  told,  however,  that  the  Spaniards  would  protect 
them  with  these  arms,  against  the   invasions  of  their 
dreaded  enemies,  the  Caribs,  their  alarm  was  changed 
into  confident  exultation,  considering  themselves  under 
the  protection  of  the  sons  of  heaven,  who  had  come  from 
the  skies,  armed  with  thunder  and  lightning. 

22.  The  cacique  placed  a  coronet  of  gold  on  the  head 
of  Columbus,  and  hung  plates  of  the  same  metal  round 
his  neck,  and  dispensed  liberal  presents  among  his  fol 
lowers.     Whatever  trifles  were  given  in  return  were  re 
garded  with  reverence  as  celestial  gifts,  and  were  said  by 
the  Indians  to  have  come  from  Turey,  or  heaven. 

23.  When  Guacanagari  perceived  the  great  value  which 
the  admiral  attached  to  gold,  he  informed  him,  that  there 
was  a  place,  not  far  off,  where  it  abounded  ;  and  he  pro 
mised  to  procure  him,  from  thence,  as  much  as  he  desired. 
This  golden  region,  was  called  Cibao,  and  lay  among 
high  and  rugged  mountains.     The  cacique  who  ruled 
over  it  owned  many  rich  mines,  and  had  banners  of 
wrought  gold. 

5 


50  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

24.  Three  houses  had  been  given  to  the  shipwrecked 
crew  for  their  residence.     Here,  living1  on  shore,  and 
mingling"  freely  with  the  natives,  they  became  fascina 
ted  by  their  easy  and  idle  mode  of  life.     They  were  go 
verned  by  their  caciques  with  an  absolute  but  patriarchal 
and  easy  rule,  and  existed  in  that  state  of  primitive  and 
savage  simplicity  which  some  philosophers  have  fondly 
pictured  as  the  most  enviable  on  earth. 

25.  "  It  is  certain,"  says  old  Peter  Martyr, "  that  the  land 
among  these  people  is  as  common  as  the  sun  and  water ; 
and  that « mine  and  thine,'  the  seeds  of  all  mischief,  have 
no  place  with  them.     They  are  content  with  so  little, 
that,  in  so  large  a  country,  they  have  rather  superfluity 
than  scarceness  ;  so  that  they  seem  to  live  in  a  golden 
world,  without  toil,  in  open  gardens,  neither  intrenched, 
nor  shut  up  by  walls  or  hedges.     They  deal  truly  with 
one  another,  without  laws,  or  books,  or  judges." 

26.  In  fact,  they  seemed  to  disquiet  themselves  about 
nothing ;  a  few  fields,  cultivated  almost  without  labour, 
furnished  roots  and  vegetables,,  their  groves  were  laden 
with  delicious  fruit,  and  the  coast  and  rivers  abounded 
with  fish.     Softened   by  the   indulgence  of  nature,  a 
great  part  of  the  day  was  passed  by  them  in  indolent  re 
pose,  in  that  luxury  of  sensation  inspired  by  a  serene  sky 
and  voluptuous  climate,  and  in  the  evening  they  danced 
in  their  fragrant  groves,  to  their  national  songs,  or  the 
rude  sound  of  their  sylvan  drums. 

27.  When  the  Spanish  mariners  looked  back  upon 
their  own  toilsome  and  painful  life,  and  reflected  upon 
the  cares  and  hardships  that  must  still  be  their  lot,  should 
they  return  to  Europe,  they  regarded  with  a  wistful  eye 
the  easy  and  idle  existence  of  the  Indians,  and  many  of 
them,  representing  to  the  admiral  the  difficulty  and  dan 
ger  of  embarking  so  many  persons  in  one  small  caravel, 
entreated  permission  to  remain  in  the  island. 

28.  Columbus  granted  their  request,  determining  to 
found  a  colony.     The  wreck  of  the  caravel  would  fur 
nish  materials  and  arms  for  a  fortress ;  and  the  people 
who  should  remain  in  the  island  could  explore  it,  learn 
the  language  of  the  natives,  and  collect  gold,  while  the 
admiral  returned  to  Spain  for  reinforcements. 


OF    COLUMBUS.  51 

29.  Guacanagan  was  overjoyed  at  finding  that  some  of 
these  wo-nderful  strangers  were  to  remain  for  the  defence 
of  his  island,  and  that  the  admiral  intended  to  revisit  it. 
He  readily  gave  permission  to  build  the  fort,  and  his 
subjects  eagerly  aided  in  its  construction,  little  dreaming 
that  they  were  assisting  to  place  on  their  necks  the  gall 
ing  yoke  of  perpetual  and  toilsome  slavery. 

30.  In  ten  days  the  fortress  was  completed.     It  con 
sisted  of  a  strong  wooden  tower,  with  a  vault  beneath, 
and  the  whole  was  surrounded  by  a  wide  ditch.     It  was 
supplied  with  the  ammunition  and  mounted  with  the 
cannon   saved  from   the   wreck.     Columbus   gave   the 
fortress  and  harbour  the  name  of  La  Navidad,  or  The 
Nativity,  in  memorial  of  having  been  preserved  from  the 
wreck  of  his  ship  on  Christmas  day. 

31.  From  the  number  of  volunteers  that  offered  to  re- 
main,  he  selected  thirty-nine  of  the  most  trustworthy, 
putting  them  under  the  command  of  Diego  de  Arana, 
notary  and  alguazil  of  the  armament.     In  case  of  his 
death,  Pedro  Gutierrez  was  to  take  the  command,  and  he, 
in  like  case,  to  be  succeeded  by  Rodrigo  de  Escobido. 

32.  He  charged  the  men  to  be  obedient  to  their  com 
manders,  respectful  to  Guacanagari  and  his  chieftains, 
and  circumspect  and  friendly  in  their  intercourse  with 
the  natives.     As  their  safety  would  depend  upon  their 
united  force,  he  warned  them  not  to  separate  nor  to  stray 
beyond  the  territory  of  the  friendly  cacique.  He  enjoined 
it  upon  the  officers,  to  employ  themselves  in  gaining  a 
knowledge  of  the  island,  in  amassing  gold  and  spices,  and 
in  searching  for  a  more  safe  and  convenient  harbour. 

33.  Before  his  departure,  he  gave  the  natives  another 
military  exhibition,  to  increase  their  awe  of  the  white 
men.     The  Spaniards  performed  skirmishes  and  mock 
fights,  with  swords,  bucklers,  lances,  crossbows,  and  fire 
arms.     The  Indians  were  astonished  at  the  keenness  of 
the  steeled  weapons,  and  the  deadly  power  of  the  cross 
bows  and  muskets  :  but  nothing  equalled  their  awe  and 
admiration  when  the  cannon  were  discharged  from  the 
fortress,  wrapping  it  in  smoke,  shaking  the  forests  with 
their  thunder,  and  shivering  the  stoutest  trees. 

34.  When  Columbus  took  leave  of  Guacanagari,  the 


52  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

kind-hearted  cacique  shed  many  tears  ;  for  he  had  been 
completely  won  by  the  benignity  of  his  manners.  The 
seamen,  too,  had  made  many  pleasant  connexions  among 
the  Indians,  and  they  parted  with  mutual  regret. 

35.  The  sorest  parting,  however,  was  with  their  com 
rades  who  remained  behind.  When  the  signal  gun  was 
fired,  they  gave  a  parting  cheer  to  the  gallant  handful  of 
volunteers  thus  left  in  the  wilderness  of  an  unknown 
world,  who  echoed  their  cheering  as  they  gazed  wistful 
ly  after  them  from  the  beach,  but  who  were  destined 
never  to  welcome  their  return. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Retwn  Voyage.      Violent  Storms.     Arrival  at  Portu 
gal.  [1493.] 

1.  IT  was  on  the  4th  of  January  that  Columbus  set  sail. 
On  the  6th,  as  he  was  beating  along  the  coast,  with  a 
head  wind,  a  sailor  at  the  mast-head  cried  out  that  there 
was  a  sail  at  a  distance,  standing  towards  them.     To 
their  great  joy  it  proved  to  be  the  Pinta,  which  came 
sweeping  before  the  wind  with  flowing  canvass. 

2.  On  joining  the  admiral,  Pinzon  endeavoured  to  excuse 
his  desertion,  by  saying  that  he  had  been  separated  by 
stress  of  weather,  and  had  ever  since  been  seeking  him. 
Columbus  listened  incredulously  to  these  excuses,  but 
avoided  any  words  that  might  produce  altercations,  and 
disturb  the  remainder  of  the  voyage.     He  ascertained, 
afterwards,  that  Pinzon  had  parted  company  intentional 
ly,  and  had  steered  directly  east,  in  quest  of  a  region 
where  the  Indians  assured  him  he  would  find  gold  in 
abundance. 

3.  They  guided  him  to  Hispaniola,  where  he  had  been 
for  some  time  in  a  river  about  fifteen  leagues  east  of  La 
Navidad,  trading  with  the  natives.     He  had  collected  a 
large  quantity  of  gold,  one  half  of  which  he  retained  as 
captain,  and  the  rest  he  divided  among  his  men,  to  secure 
their  secrecy  and  fidelity.     On  leaving  the  river,  he  had 
carried  off  four  Indian  men  and  two  girls,  as  slaves. 


OP    COLUMBUS.  53 

4.  Columbus  sailed  for  this  river,  to  which  he  gave  the 
name  of  Rio  de  Gracia ;  but  it  long  continued  to  be 
known  as  the  river  of  Martin  Alonzo.     Here  he  ordered 
the  four  men  and  two  girls  to  be  dismissed,  well  clothed, 
and  with  many  presents,  to  atone  for  the  wrong  they  had 
experienced,  and  to  allay  the  hostile  feeling  it  might  have 
caused  among  the  natives.  This  restitution  was  not  made 
without  great  unwillingness,  and  many  angry  words,  on 
the  part  of  Pinzon. 

5.  After  standing  for  some  distance  further  along  the 
coast,  they  anchored  in  a  vast  bay,  or  rather  gulf,  three 
leagues  in  breadth,  extending  far  inland,  and  bordered  by 
the  mountains  of  Ciguay.     Here  they  had  a  sharp  skir 
mish  with  the  natives,  in  which  several  of  the  latter  were 
slain.     They  were  a  hardy  and  warlike  race  of  moun 
taineers,  fierce  of  aspect,  hideously  painted,  and  their 
heads  decorated  with  feathers. 

6.  They  fought  with  war-clubs,  bows  and  arrows,  and 
swords  of  palm  wood,  so  hard  and  heavy  as  to  cleave 
through  a  helmet  to  the  very  brain.     Several  of  the  In 
dians  were  killed.     This  was  the  first  contest  with  ( the 
people  of  the  New  World,  and  the  first  time  that  native 
blood  was  shed  by  white  men.     From  this  skirmish  the 
place  received  the  name  of  the  gulf  of  arrows  ;*  it  is  now 
called  the  gulf  of  Samana. 

7.  Columbus  lamented  this  conflict,  and  apprehended 
further  hostilities ;  but,  to  his  surprise,  the  natives  on 
the  following  day  resumed  their  intercourse  as  if  nothing 
had  happened.     The  cacique,  whose  name  was  Mayona- 
bex,  came  on  board  with  only  three  attendants,  and 
throughout  all  their  subsequent  dealings  they  betrayed 
no  signs  of  lurking  fear  or  enmity. 

8.  This  frank  and  confiding  conduct,  so  indicative  of 
a  brave  and  generous  nature,  was  properly  appreciated  by 
Columbus :  he  entertained  the  cacique  with  great  distinc 
tion,  and  at  parting  made  many  presents  to  him  and  his 
attendants.     This  Mayonabex,  in  subsequent  events  of 
this  history,  will  be  found  to  acquit  himself  with  valour 
and  magnanimity,  under  the  most  trying  circumstances. 

*  El  Golfo  de  las  Fleches. 


54  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

9.  Columbus,  on  leaving  the  bay,  took  four  young  In 
dians,  to  guide  him  to  the  Caribbean  islands,  situated  to 
the  east,  of  which  they  gave  him  very  interesting  ac 
counts,  as  well  as  of  the  island  of  Mantinino,  said  to  be 
inhabited  by  Amazons.     A  favourable  breeze  sprang  up, 
however,  for  the  voyage  homewards,  and,  seeing  gloom 
and  impatience  in  the  countenances  of  his  men,  at  the 
idea  of  diverging  from  their  route,  he  gave  up  his  inten 
tion  of  visiting  these  islands  for  the  present,  and  made 
all  sail  for  Spain. 

10.  The  favourable  breeze  soon  died  away ;  light  winds 
from  the  east,  and  frequent  calms,  succeeded ;  but  they  had 
intervals  of  favourable  weather,  and  by  the  12th  of  Feb 
ruary  they  had  made  such  progress  as  to  begin  to  flatter 
themselves  with  the  hopes  of  soon  beholding  land.    The 
wind  now  came  on  to  blow  violently  ;  on  the  following 
evening  there  were  three  flashes  of  lightning  in  the 
north-north-east ;  from  which  signs  Columbus  predicted 
an  approaching  tempest. 

11.  It  soon  burst  upon  them  with  frightful  violence , 
their  small  and  crazy  vessels  were  little  fitted  for  the 
wild  storms  of  the  Atlantic  ;  ah1  night  they  were  obliged 
to  scud  under  bare  poles  at  the  mercy  of  the  elements. 
As  the  morning  dawned,  there  was  a  transient  pause, 
and  they  made  a  little  sail ;  but  the  wind  rose  with  re 
doubled  fury  from  the  south,  and  increased  in  the  night, 
the  vessels  labouring  terribly  in  a  cross  sea,  which  threat 
ened  at  each  moment  to  overwhelm  them  or  dash  them 
to  pieces. 

12.  The  tempest  still  augmenting,  they  were  obliged 
again  to  scud  before  the  wind.    The  admiral  made  signal 
lights  for  the  Pinta  to  keep  in  company ;  but  she  was 
separated  by  the  violence  of  the  storm  ;  her  lights  gleam 
ed  more  and  more  distant,  until  they  ceased  entirely. 
When  the  day  dawned,  the  sea  presented  a  frightful 
waste  of  wild  broken  waves,  lashed  into  fury  by  the  gale ; 
Columbus  looked  round  anxiously  for  the  Pinta,  but  she 
was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 

13.  Throughout  a  dreary  day  the  helpless  bark  was 
driven  along  by  the  tempest.     Seeing  all  human   skill 
baffled  and  confounded,  the  admiral  endeavoured  to  pro- 


OF    COLUMBUS.  55 

pitiate  heaven  by  solemn  vows.  Lots  were  cast  to  per 
form  pilgrimages  and  penitences,  most  of  which  fell 
upon  himself.  A  vow  was  also  made  by  the  admiral  and 
the  whole  crew,  that  if  they  were  spared  to  reach  the 
land  they  would  walk  in  procession,  barefooted,  to  offer 
up  thanksgiving  in  some  church  dedicated  to  the  Virgin. 

14.  The  heavens,  however,  seemed  deaf  to  all  their 
vows ;  the  storm  grew  still  more  furious,  and  every  one 
gave  himself  up  for  lost.     The  mind  of  Columbus  was  a 
prey  to  the  most  distressing  anxiety.     He  was  harassed 
by  the  repinings  of  his  crew,  who  cursed  the  hour  of  their 
leaving  their  country,  and  their  want  of  resolution  in  not 
compelling  him  to  abandon  the  voyage.     He  was  afflict 
ed,  also,  when  he  thought  of  his  two  sons,  who  would  be 
left  destitute  by  his  death. 

15.  But  he  had  another  source  of  distress,  more  in 
tolerable  than  death  itself.     It  was  highly  probable  that 
the  Pinta  had  foundered  in  the  storm.    In  such  case, 
the  history  of  his  discovery  would  depend  upon  his  own 
feeble  bark ;  one  surge  of  the  ocean  might  bury  it  for 
ever  in  oblivion,  and  his  name  only  remain  as  that  of  a 
desperate  adventurer,  who  had  perished  in  pursuit  of  a 
chimera. 

16.  To  guard  against  suph  a  result,  he  wrote  on  parch 
ment  a  brief  account  of  his  discovery,  and  of  his  having 
taken  possession  of  the  newly  found  lands  in  the  name  of 
their  Catholic  majesties.    This  he  sealed  and  directed  to 
the  king  and  queen,  and  superscribed  a  promise  of  a 
thousand  ducats  to  whomsoever  should  deliver  the  packet 
unopened.     He  then  wrapped  it  in  a  waxed  cloth,  which 
he  placed  in  the  centre  of  a  cake  of  wax,  and  enclosing 
the  whole  in  a  cask,  threw  it  into  the  sea.     A  copy  of 
this  memorial  he  enclosed,  in  a  similar  manner,  and  placed 
it  upon  the  stern  of  his  vessel,  so  that,  should  the  caravel 
sink,  the  cask  might  float  off  and  survive. 

17.  Happily,  these   precautions,   though  wise,  were 
superfluous  ;  at  sunset  there  was  a  streak  of  clear  sky  in 
the  west,  the  wind  shifted  to  that  quarter,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  15th  of  February  they  came  in  sight  of  land. 

18.  The  transports  of  the  crew  at  once  more  beholding 
the  old  world  were  almost  equal  to  those  they  had  expe- 


56  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

rienced  on  discovering  the  new.  For  two  or  three  days, 
however,  the  wind  again  became  contrary,  and  they  re 
mained  hovering  in  sight  of  land,  of  which  they  only 
caught  glimpses  through  the  mist  and  rack.  At  length 
they  came  to  anchor,  at  the  island  of  St.  Mary's,  the 
most  southern  of  the  Azores,  and  a  possession  of  the 
crown  of  Portugal. 

19.  An  ungenerous  reception  awaited  the  poor  tem 
pest-tossed  mariners,  on  their  return  to  the  abode  of  civi 
lized  man,  far  different  from  the  kindness  and  hospitality 
they  had  experienced  among  the  savages  of  the  new 
world.     Columbus  sent  one  half  of  the  crew  on  shore,  to 
fulfil  the  vow  of  a  barefooted  procession  to  a  chapel  of 
the  Virgin,  which  stood  on  a  solitary  part  of  the  coast, 
and  awaited  their  return  to  perform  the  same  ceremony 
with  the  remainder. 

20.  Scarcely  had  they  begun  their  prayers,  when  a 
party  of  horse  and  foot,  headed  by  the  governor  of  the 
island,  surrounded  the  chapel,  and  took  them  all  prison 
ers.     The  real  object  of  this  outrage  was  to  get  posses 
sion  of  the  person  of  Columbus  ;  for  the  king  of  Portu 
gal,  jealous  lest  his  enterprise  might  interfere  with  his 
own  discoveries,  had  sent  orders  to  his  commanders  of 
islands  and  distant  ports  to  seize  and  detain  him  wherever 
he  should  be  met  with. 

21.  Having  failed  in  this  open  attempt,  the  governor 
next  endeavoured  to  effect  his  purpose  by  stratagem,  but 
was  equally  unsuccessful.     Being  thus  baffled  in  his  aim, 
and  being  threatened  with  the  vengeance  of  the  Spanish 
sovereigns,  he  released  his  prisoners,  after  two  or  three 
days'  detention,  pretending  to  have  acted  through  doubts 
of  Columbus  having  a  regular  commission. 

22.  The  voyagers  again  set  sail  with  pleasant  weather, 
but  were  soon  overtaken  by  a  tempest,  which  rent  their 
sails  and  threatened  instant  distruction.     The  crew  were 
again  reduced  to  despair,  and  made  vows  of  fastings  and 
pilgrimages.     The  storm  raged  for  a  night  and  day,  and 
rose  to  its  utmost  fury  on  the  night  of  the  3d  of  March. 
The  sea  was  wild,  broken,  and  mountainous,  the  rain  fell 
in  torrents,  and  lightning  flashed,  and  thunder  pealed 
from  various  parts  of  the  heavens. 


OF    COLUMBUS.  57 

23.  In  the  first  watch  of  this  fearful  night,  the  seamen 
gave  the  usually  welcome  cry  of  land  ;  but  it  only  increased 
the  alarm,  for  they  were  ignorant  of  their  situation,  and 
dreaded  being  driven  on  shore,  or  dashed  upon  the  rocks. 
Taking  in  sail,  therefore,  they  endeavoured  to  keep  to 
sea  as  much  as  possible.     At  day-break  on  the  4th  of 
March,  they  found  themselves  off  the  rock  of  Cintra,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Tagus. 

24.  Though  distrustful  of  the  good  will  of  Portugal, 
Columbus  had  no  alternative  but  to  run  in  for  shelter, 
and  he  accordingly  anchored  about  three  o'clock  in  the 
river,  opposite  to  Rastello.     The  inhabitants  came  off 
from  various  parts  of  the  shore,  to  congratulate  him  on 
what  they  deemed  a  miraculous  preservation,  for  they 
had  been  watching  the  vessel  the  whole  morning,  with 
great  anxiety,  and  putting  up  prayers  for  her  safety. 

25.  Such  were  the  difficulties  and  perils  with  which  Co 
lumbus  had  to  contend  on  his  return  to  Europe  :  had  one 
tenth  part  of  them  beset  his  outward  voyage,  his  factious 
crew  would  have  risen  in  arms  against  the  enterprise, 
and  he  never  would  have  discovered  the  new  world. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Visit  of  Columbus  to  the  Court  of  Portugal.     Arrival  at 
Palos.  [1493.] 

1.  The  arrival  of  a  bark  in  the  Tagus,  freighted  with 
the  people  and  productions  of  a  newly  discovered  world, 
rilled  all  Lisbon  with  astonishment.     For  several  days 
the  river  was  covered  with  barges  and  boats,  bearing 
visitors  to  the  ship  of  the  most  distinguished  rank. 

2.  All  hung  with  rapt  attention  on  the  accounts  of  the 
voyage,  and   gazed  with  insatiable  curiosity  upon  the 
plants,  and  animals,  and  above  all,  upon  the  inhabitants 
of  the  new  world.     The  enthusiasm  of  some,  and  the 
avarice  of  others,  was  excited  ;  while  many  repined  at 
the  incredulity  of  the  king  and  his  counsellors,  by  which 
so  grand  a  discovery  had  been  for  ever  lost  to  Portugal. 


58  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

3.  Immediately  on  his  arrival,  Columbus  wrote  to  the 
king  of  Portugal,  who  was  at  Valparaiso,  about  nine 
leagues  from  Lisbon,  informing  him  of  the  events  of  his 
voyage,  and  the  route  he  had  pursued,  lest  the  king 
should  suppose  he  had  been  in  the  track  of  the  Portu 
guese  discoverers.     On  the  8th  of  March,  he  received  a 
reply,  congratulating  him  on  his  arrival,  and  inviting  him 
to  court.     The  king  at  the  same  time  ordered,  that  any 
thing  which  the  admiral  required  for  himself  or  his  vessel 
should  be  furnished  free  of  cost. 

4.  Columbus  set  out  reluctantly  for  the  court,  for  he 
distrusted  the  good  faith  of  the  king.     His  reception, 
however,  was  of  the  most  honourable  kind.     The  prin 
cipal  officers  of  the  royal  household  came  forth  to  meet 
him,  and  conducted  him  to  the  palace.     The  king  re 
quested  him  to  seat  himself  in  his  presence,  a  privilege 
only  granted  to  persons  of  royal  dignity.     He  welcomed 
him  to  Portugal,  and  congratulated  him  on  the  glorious 
result  of  his  enterprise  ;  though  secretly,  he  repined  that 
this   splendid  enterprise  had   been  offered  to   himself 
and  refused. 

5.  He  held  repeated   conversations  with  Columbus, 
and  made  minute  inquiries  as  to  the  routes  by  which  he 
had  sailed,  and  the  soil,  productions,  and  people  of  the 
countries  which  he  had  discovered,  seeming  to  take  great 
pleasure  in  his  replies. 

6.  The  true  object  of  these  inquiries,  however,  was  to 
ascertain  whether  the  regions  in  question  did  not  fall 
within  the  scope  of  the  papal  bull  or  ordinance,  granting 
to  the  crown  of  Portugal  all  the  land  it  should  discover 
from  Cape  Non  to  the  Indies. 

7.  King  John  suggested  these  doubts  to  his  counsel 
lors,  who  ea.gerly  encouraged  them ;  for  among  them 
were  the  very  persons  who  had  scoffed  at  Columbus  as  a 
dreamer,  and  his  success  covered  them  with  confusion. 
They  declared  that  the  natives  brought  in  the  caravel 
answered  exactly  to  the  description  of  the  people  of  that 
part  of  India  granted  to  Portugal  by  the  papal  bull ;  and 
that  the  newly  discovered  land  clearly  fell  within  the 
Portuguese  territories. 

8.  Some  endeavoured  to  awaken  the  anger  of  the  king, 


OF    COLUMBUS.  59 

by  declaring  that  Columbus  had  talked  of  his  discoveries 
in  an  arrogant  and  vainglorious  strain,  merely  to  revenge 
himself  upon  the  monarch  for  having  rejected  his  propo 
sitions. 

9.  Others  even  went  so  far  as  to  propose,  as  an  effec 
tual  means  of  impeding  the  prosecution  of  these  enter 
prises,  that  Columbus  should  be  assassinated.     It  would 
be  an  easy  matter  to  take  advantage  of  his  lofty  deport 
ment,  to  pique  his  pride,  provoke  him  to  an  altercation, 
and  suddenly  despatch  him  as  if  in  casual  and  honoura 
ble  encounter. 

10.  Happily,  the  king  had  too  much  magnanimity  to 
adopt  such  wicked  and  dastardly  counsel.     Though  se 
cretly  grieved  and  mortified  that  the  rival  power  of  Spain 
should  have  won  this  triumph  which  he  had  rejected,  yet 
he  did  justice  to  the  great  merit  of  Columbus,  and  hon 
oured  him  as  a  distinguished  benefactor  to  mankind.  He 
felt  it  his  duty,  also,  as  a  generous  prince,  to  protect  all 
strangers  driven  by  adverse  fortune  to  his  ports. 

11.  Columbus,  therefore,  after  being  treated  with  the 
most  honourable  attentions,  was  escorted  back  to  his  ship 
by  a  numerous  train  of  cavaliers  of  the  court.     On  the 
way  he  paid  a  visit  to  the  queen  at  a  monastery  at  Villa 
Franca,  where  he  was  listened  to  with  wonder,  as  he 
related  the  events  of  his  voyage  to  her  majesty  and  the 
ladies  of  her  court. 

12.  Putting  to  sea  on  the  13th  of  March,  he  arrived 
safely  at  Palos  on  the  15th  ;  having  taken  not  quite  seven 
months  and  a  half  to  accomplish  this  most  momentous  of 
all  martitime  enterprises. 

13.  The  people  of  Palos  had  remained  in  the  greatest 
anxiety  about  the  fate  of  this  expedition,  in  which  so 
many  of  their  friends  were  embarked.     When,  therefore, 
they  beheld  one  of  the  adventurous  vessels  furling  her 
sails  in  their  harbour,  from  the  discovery  of  a  world,  the 
whole  community  broke  forth  into  a  transport  of  joy,  the 
bells  were  rung,  the  shops  shut,  and  all  business  was 
suspended. 

14.  Columbus  landed,  and  walked  in  procession  to  the 
c-hurch  of  St.  George,  to  return  thanks  to  God.    Where 
ver  he  passed,  the  air  rang  with  acclamations,  and  he 


60  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

received  such  honours  as  are  paid  to  sovereigns.  What 
a  contrast  was  this  to  his  departure  a  few  months  before, 
followed  by  murmurs  and  execrations  !  or  rather,  what  a 
contrast  to  his  first  arrival  at  Palos,  a  poor  pedestrian,  cra 
ving-  bread  and  water  for  his  child  at  the  gate  of  a  convent ! 

15.  Having  despatched  a  letter  to  the  sovereigns  in 
forming  them  of  his  arrival,  he  received  an  answer  within 
a.  few  days,  addressed  to  him  by  his  titles  of  admiral  and 
viceroy.     They  promised  him  still  greater  rewards,  and 
urged  him  to  come  to  them  immediately  at  Barcelona,  to 
concert  plans  for  a  second  and  more  extensive  expedition. 

16.  It  is  fitting  here  to  speak  a  word  of  the  fate  of 
Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon.     When  separated  from  Colum 
bus  in  the  storm,  he  was  driven  into  the  bay  of  Biscay, 
and  made  the  port  of  Bayonne.     Doubting  whether  Co 
lumbus  had  survived  the  tempest,  he  immediately  wrote 
to  the  sovereigns,  giving  an  account  of  the  discovery,  and 
requesting  permission  to  come  to  court  and  relate  the 
particulars  in  person. 

17.  As  soon  as  the  weather  was  favourable,  he  again 
set  sail  for  Palos,  and,  by  a  singular  coincidence,  reached 
there  on  the  evening  of  the  day  on  which  Columbus  had 
arrived.     It  is  said  he  feared  to  meet  the  admiral,  in  this 
hour  of  his  triumph,  lest  he  should  put  him  under  arrest 
for  his  desertion  on  the  coast  of  Cuba ;  but  this  is  not 
probable,  for  he  was  a  man  of  too  much  resolution  to 
yield  to  such  a  fear. 

18.  Whatever  may  have  been  his  motive,  he  landed 
privately  in  his  boat,  and  kept  out  of  sight  until  the  de 
parture  of  the  admiral,  when  he  returned  to  his  home, 
broken  in  health,  and  deeply  dejected,  awaiting  the  reply 
of  the  sovereigns  to  his  letter.     The  reply  at  length  ar 
rived,  forbidding  his  coming  to  court,  and  severely  re 
proaching  him  for  his  conduct.      This  completed  his 
humiliation ;  the  wounds  of  his  feelings  gave  virulence 
to  his  bodily  malady,  and  in  a  few  days  he  died,  a  victim 
to  grief  and  repentance. 

19.  Let  no  one,  however,  indulge  in  harsh  censures 
over  the  grave  of  Pinzon.     His  merits  and  services  are 
entitled  to  the  highest  praise  ;  his  errors  should  be  re 
garded  with  indulgence.     He  wap  one  of  the  first  in 


OF  COLUMBUS.  61 

Spain  to  appreciate  the  project  of  Columbus  ;  he  aided 
him  with  his  purse  when  poor  and  unknown  at  Palos  ; 
he  enabled  him  to  procure  and  fit  out  ships,  when  even 
the  royal  mandates  were  ineffectual  ;  and  finally  he  em- 
barked  in  the  expedition  with  his  brothers  and  his  friends, 
staking  life,  property,  every  thing,  upon  the  event. 

20.  He  had  thus  entitled  himself  to  participate  largely 
in  the  glory  of  this  immortal  enterprise  ;  but,  unfortu 
nately,  forgetting  for   a  moment  the  grandeur  of  the 
cause,  he  yielded  to  the  incitements  of  self-interest,  and 
was  guilty  of  that  act  of  insubordination  which  has  cas* 
a  shade  upon  his  name. 

21.  Much  may  be  said,  however,  in  extenuation  of  hi* 
fault  :  his  consciousness  of  having  rendered  great  ser 
vices  to  the  expedition,  and  of  possessing  property  in  the 
ships,  and  his  habits  of  command,  which  rendered  him 
impatient  of  control. 

22.  That  he  was  a  man  naturally  of  generous  senti 
ments  and  honourable  ambition,  is   evident  from  the 
poignancy  with  which  he  felt  the  disgrace  drawn  upon 
him  by  his  conduct.     A  mean  man  would  not  have  fallen 
a  victim  to  self-upbraiding  for  having  been  convicted  of 
a  mean  action.     His  story  shows  how  one  lapse  from 
duty  may  counterbalance  the  merits  of  a  thousand  ser 
vices  ;  how  one  moment  of  weakness  may  mar  the  beauty 
of  a  whole  life  of  virtue  ;  and  how  important  it  is  for  a 
man,  under  all  circumstances,  to  be  true,  not  merely  to 
others,  but  to  himself. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Reception  of  Columbus  by  the  Spanish  Sovereigns  at 
Barcelona.  [1493.] 

1.  THE  journey  of  Columbus  to  Barcelona  was  like  the 
progress  of  a  sovereign.  Wherever  he  passed,  the  country 
poured  forth  its  inhabitants,  who  rent  the  air  with  accla 
mations.  In  the  large  towns,  the  streets,  windows,  and 
balconies  were  filled  with  spectators,  eager  to  gain  a 
6 


62  LIFE   AND   VOYAGES 

sight  of  him  and  of  the  Indians  whom  he  carried  with 
him,  who  were  regarded  with  as  much  astonishment  as  if 
they  had  been  natives  of  another  planet. 

2.  It  was  about  the  middle  of  April  that  he  arrived  at 
Barcelona,  and  the  beauty  and  serenity  of  the  weather, 
in  that  genial  season  and  favoured  climate,  contributed  to 
give  splendour  to  the  memorable  ceremony  of  his  recep 
tion.     As  he  drew  near  the  place,  many  of  the  youthful 
courtiers  and  cavaliers,  followed  by  a  vast  concourse  of 
the  populace,  came  forth  to  meet  him.     His  entrance  into 
this  noble  city  has  been  compared  to  one  of  those  tri 
umphs  which  the  Romans  were  accustomed  to  decree  to 
conquerors. 

3.  First  were  paraded  the  Indians,  painted  according 
to  their  savage  fashion,  and  decorated  with  their  orna 
ments  of  gold.     After  these  were  borne  various  kinds  of 
live  parrots,  together  with  stuffed  birds  and  animals  of 
unknown  species,  and  rare  plants  supposed  to  be  of  pre 
cious  qualities  ;  while  especial  care  was  taken  to  display 
the  Indian  coronets,  bracelets,  and  other  decorations  of 
gold,  which  might  give  an  idea  of  the  wealth  of  the  new 
ly  discovered  regions.     After  this  followed  Columbus,  on 
horseback,  surrounded  by  a  brilliant  cavalcade. 

4.  The  streets  were  almost  impassable  from  the  multi 
tude  ;  the  houses,  even  to  the  very  roofs,  were  crowded 
with  spectators.     It  seemed  as  if  the  public  eye  could  not 
be  sated  with  gazing  at  these  trophies  of  an  unknown 
world,  or  on  the  remarkable  man  by  whom  it  had  been 
discovered. 

5.  There  was  a  sublimity  in  this  event  that  mingled  a 
solemn  feeling  with  the  public  joy.     It  was  considered  a 
signal  dispensation  of  Providence  in  reward  for  the  piety 
of  the  sovereigns ;  and  the  majestic  and  venerable  ap 
pearance  of  the  discoverer,  so  different  from  the  youth 
and  buoyancy  that  generally  accompany  roving  enter 
prise,  seemed  in  harmony  with  the  grandeur  and  dignity 
of  the  achievement. 

6.  The  sovereigns   had  ordered  their  throne  to  be 
placed  in  public,  under  a  rich  canopy  of  brocade  of  gold, 
where  they  awaited  his  arrival,  seated  in  state,  with  Prince 
Juan  beside  them,  and  surrounded  by  their  nobles.     Co- 


OF    COLUMBUS.  Dd 

lumbus  arrived  in  their  presence,  accompanied  by  a 
brilliant  crowd  of  cavaliers,  among  whom,  we  are  told, 
he  was  conspicuous  for  his  stately  and  commanding 
person,  which,  with  his  venerable  gray  hairs,  gave  him 
the  august  appearance  of  a  senator  of  Rome. 

7.  A  modest  smile  lighted  up  his  countenance,  show 
ing  that  he  enjoyed  the  state  and  glory  in  which  he  came ; 
and  certainly  nothing  could  be  more  deeply  moving  to  a 
mind  inflamed  by  noble  ambition,  and  conscious  of  having 
nobly  deserved,  than  these  testimonials  of  the  admiration 
and  gratitude  of  a  nation,  or  rather  of  a  world. 

8.  On  his  approach,  the  sovereigns  rose,  as  if  receiv 
ing  a  person  of  the  highest  rank.    Bending  on  his  knees, 
he  would  have  kissed  their  hands  in  token  of  homage,  but 
they  raised  him  in  the  most  gracious  manner,  and  as 
signed  him  a  seat  himself  in  their  presence ;  which  was  con 
sidered  a  rare  honour  in  this  proud  and  punctilious  court. 

9.  He  now  gave  an  account  of  the  most  striking  events 
of  his  voyage,  and  displayed  the  various  productions  and' 
the  native  inhabitants  which  he  had  brought  from  the 
new  world.     He  assured  their  majesties  that  all  these 
were  but  harbingers  of  greater  discoveries  which  he  had 
yet  to  make,  which  would  add  realms  of  incalculable 
wealth  to  their  donrnwons,  and  whole  nations  of  prose 
lytes  to  the  true  faith. 

10.  When  he  had  finished,  the  king  and  queen  sank 
on  their  knees,  raised  their  hands  to  heaven,  and,  with 
eyes  filled  with  tears  of  joy  and  gratitude,  poured  forth 
thanks  and  praises  to  God.     All  present  followed  their 
example  ;  a  deep  and  solemn  enthusiasm  pervaded  that 
splendid  assembly,  and  prevented  all  common  acclama 
tions  of  triumph. 

11.  The  anthem  of  Te  Deum^  chanted  by  the  choir  of 
the  royal  chapel,  with  the  melodious  accompaniments  of 
instruments,  rose  in  a  full  body  of  harmony,  bearing  up, 
as  it  were,  the  feelings  and  thoughts  of  the  auditors  to 
heaven.     Such  was  the   solemn  and  pious  manner  in 
which  the  brilliant  court  of  Spain  celebrated  this  sublime 
event ;   offering  up  a  grateful  tribute  of  melody  and 
praise,  and  giving  glory  to  God  for  the  discovery  of 
another  world. 


04  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

12.  While  the  mind  of  Columbus  was  excited  by  this 
triumph,  his  pious  scheme  for  the  deliverance  of  the  holy 
sepulchre  was  not  forgotten.     Flushed  with  the  idea  of 
the  vast  wealth  that  must  accrue  to  himself  from  his  dis 
coveries,  he  made  a  vow  to  furnish,  within  seven  years, 
an  army  of  four  thousand  horse  and  fifty  thousand  foot, 
for  a  crusade  to  the  holy  land,  and  a  similar  force  within 
the  five  following-  years. 

13.  It  is  essential  to  a  full  knowledge  of  the  character 
and  motives  of  this  extraordinary  man,  that  this  visionary 
project  should  be  borne  in  recollection.     It  shows  how 
much  his  mind  was  elevated  above  selfish  and  mercenary 
views,  and  filled  with  those  devout  and  heroic  schemes 
which,  in  the  time  of  the  crusades,  had  inflamed  the  am- 
bition  of  the  bravest  warriors  and  most  illustrious  princes. 

14.  During  his  sojourn  at  Barcelona,  the  sovereigns 
took  every  occasion  to  bestow  on  him  the  highest  marks 
of  personal  consideration.     He  was  admitted  at  all  times 
to  the  royal  presence ;  appeared  occasionally  with  the 
king  on  horseback ;  and  the  queen  delighted  to  converse 
familiarly  with  him  on  the  subject  of  his  voyage. 

15.  To  perpetuate  in  his  family  the  glory  of  his  achieve 
ment,  a  coat  of  arms  was  given  him,  in  which  he  was 
allowed  to  quarter  the  royal  arms,  the  castle  and  lion, 
with  those  more  peculiarly  assigned  him,  which  were  a 
group  of  islands  surrounded  by  waves :  to  these  arms 
were  afterward  annexed  the  motto  : 

To  Castile  and  Leon 
Columbus  gave  a  new  world.* 

16.  Tha  pension  of  thirty  crowns,  which  had  been  de 
creed  by  the  sovereigns  to  whomsoever  should  first  dis 
cover  land,  was  adjudged  to  Columbus,  for  having  first 
seen  the  light  on  the  shore.     It  is  said  that  the  seaman 
who  first  descried  the  land  was  so  incensed  at  being  dis 
appointed  of  what  he  deemed  his  merited  reward,  that  he 
renounced  his  country  and  his  faith,  and,  crossing  into 
Africa,  turned  Mussulman  ;  this  anecdote,  however,  rests 
on  rather  questionable  authority. 


*  A  CASTILIA  Y  A  LEON 
NUKVO  MUNDO  DIO  COLON 


OP    COLUMBUS.  65 

17.  There  are  never  wanting  base  and  envious  minds 
to  decry  the  greatest  actions.     At  one  of  the  banquets 
given  to  Columbus  by  the  nobility,  a  shallow  courtier, 
meanly  jealous  of  him  as  a  foreigner,  abruptly  asked 
whether  he  thought  that,  in  case  he  had  not  discovered 
the  Indies,  there  would  not  have  been  men  in  Spain  ca 
pable  of  the  enterprise. 

18.  Columbus  made  no  direct  reply,  but,  taking  an  egg, 
invited  the  company  to  make  it  stand  upon  one  end. 
When  every  one  had  attempted  it  in  vain,  he  struck  it 
upon  the  table,  broke  one  end,  and  left  it  standing  on  the 
broken  part. 

19.  In  this  simple  and  pleasant  manner  he  reproved 
the  after-sagacity  of  this  conceited  courtier ;  showing 
him,  that  the  most  perplexing  things  become  the  easiest 
to  be  done,  when  we  are  once  shown  the  way. 

20.  The  tidings  of  the  great  discovery  of  Columbus 
soon  spread  throughout  the  civilized  world,  filling  every 
one  with  astonishment  and  delight.     Men  of  learning 
and  science  shed  tears  of  joy,  and  those  of  ardent  imagi 
nations  indulged  in  the  most  extravagant  and  delightful 
dreams. 

21.  Notwithstanding  all  this  triumph,  however,  no  one 
had  an  idea  of  the  real  importance  of  the  discovery.    The 
opinion  of  Columbus  was  universally  adopted,  that  Cuba 
was  the  end  of  the  Asiatic  continent,  and  that  the  adja 
cent  islands  were  in  the  Indian  seas.     They  were  called, 
therefore,  the  West  Indies,  and  as  the  region  thus  dis 
covered  appeared  to  be  of  a  vast  and  indefinite  extent, 
and  existing  in  a  state  of  nature,  it  received  the  compre 
hensive  appellation  of  "  the  New  World." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Papal  Bull  of  Partition.    Preparations  for  a  second  Voy* 
age  of  Discovery.  [1493.] 

1.  THE  Spanish  sovereigns  lost  no  time  in  taking 
measures  to  secure  their  new  acquisitions.     A  bull  was 
6* 


66  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

obtained  from  the  Pope,  granting-  them  dominion  over  all 
the  lands  discovered,  or  that  might  be  discovered,  in  the 
new  world,  on  condition  of  propagating  the  Christian 
religion  among  the  inhabitants. 

2.  This  was  in  virtue  of  a  supreme  authority  over  all 
temporal  things,  supposed,  by  the  zealous  Christians  of 
those  days,  to  be  vested  in  the  Pope,  as  Christ's  vicar  on 
earth ;  and  by  which  he  was  empowered  to  dispose  of  all 
heathen  lands  to  such  potentates  as  would  undertake  to 
convert  or  subdue  them  to  the  Catholic  faith. 

3.  Lest  the  discoveries  of  the  Spanish  should  interfere 
with  those  of  the  Portuguese,  which  had  likewise  been 
secured  by  a  papal  bull,  an  ideal  line  was  drawn,  by  or 
der  of  the  Pope,  from  the  north  to  the  south  pole,  a  hun 
dred  leagues  west  of  the  Azores  and  the  Cape  de  Verde 
islands.     All  land  discovered  to  the  west  of  this  line  was 
to  belong  to  Spain ;  all  land  discovered  in  the  contrary 
direction  was  to  belong  to  Portugal. 

4.  The  utmost  exertions  were  now  made  to  fit  out  a 
second  expedition.     An  office  was  established  at  Seville 
for  the  despatch  of  business,  which  was  the  germ  of  the 
royal  India  house.     Juan  Rodriguez  de  Fonseca,  arch 
deacon  of  Seville,  was  appointed  superintendent  of  In 
dia  affairs,  Francisco  Pinelo  treasurer,  and  Juan  de  Spria 
comptroller.     No  one  was  permitted  to  embark  for  the 
new  world  without  a  license  from  either  the  sovereigns, 
Columbus,  or  Fonseca. 

5.  Labourers  and  artisans  of  all  kinds  were  engaged 
for  the  projected  colony,  and  every  thing  provided  neces 
sary  for  cultivating  the  soil,  working  the  mines,  and  tra 
ding  with  the  natives. 

6.  Bernardo  Boyle,  an  able,  but  crafty,  Benedictine 
monk,  was  appointed  by  the  pope  as  his  apostolical  vicar 
for  the  new  world.     Twelve  ecclesiastics  were  chosen 
to  accompany  him,  charged  with  the  religious  instruction 
of  the  Indians,  and  provided  by  Isabella  with  all  things 
necessary  for  the  dignified  discharge  of  their  mission. 

7.  The  queen  considered  the  natives  as  committed  by 
heaven  to  her  peculiar  care,  and  enjoined  that  they  should 
be  treated  with  the  utmost  kindness;  and  that  signal 
punishment  should  be  inflicted  upon  all  who  should  wrong 


OF   COLUMBUS.    *  67 

them.  Those  who  had  been  brought  by  the  admiral  to 
Barcelona,  were  baptized  with  great  state  and  solemnity, 
the  king,  queen,  and  prince  Juan  standing  as  sponsors. 

8.  The  magnificent  ideas  entertained  of  the  new  world 
drew  volunteers  of  all  kinds  ;  men  of  rank,  officers  of  the 
royal  household,  and  youthful  cavaliers.     Some  were  en 
listed  in  the  royal  service,  others  engaged  at  their  own 
risk  and  expense.     Few  had  any  distinct  idea  of  the  en 
terprise  in  which  they  were  engaging ;  but  fancied  they 
were  about  to  have  glorious  adventures  and  golden  gains, 
in  the  splendid  but  semi -barbarous  countries  of  Asia. 

9.  Among  these  adventurers  was  a  young  cavalier  of 
good  family,  named  Alonzo  de  Ojeda.*     He  was  small 
in  stature,  but  muscular  and  well  made,  and  of  incredible 
strength  and  agility.     His  countenance  was  dark,  hand 
some,  and  expressive,  with  a  daring  eye.     An  admira-' 
ble  horseman,  a  master  of  all  kinds  of  weapons,  he  was 
eminently  calculated  for  partisan  service. 

10.  Bold  of  heart,  free  of  spirit,  open  of  hand — fierce  in 
fight,  quick  in  brawl,  but  ready  to  forgive,  and  prone  to 
forget  an  injury — he  was  for  a  long  time  the  idol  of  the 
rash  youth  who  flocked  to  the  new  world,  and  became 
noted  for  many  wild  and  perilous  exploits. 

11.  The  very  first  notice  we  have  of  him,  is  a  hair- 
brained  feat  performed  in  presence  of  the  queen,  on  the 
Moorish  tower  of  the  cathedral  of  Ssville.   A  great  beam 
projected  about  twenty  feet  from  the  tower,  at  an  im 
mense  height  from  the  ground ;  along  this  beam  Ojeda 
walked  briskly  with  as  much  confidence  as  if  pacing  his 
chamber. 

12.  When  arrived  at  the  end,  he  stood  on  one  leg, 
with  the  other  elevated  in  the  air ;  then  turning  nimbly, 
walked  back  to  the  tower,  placed  one  foot  against  it, 
and  threw  an  orange  to  the  summit  ;  which  could  only 
have  been  done  by  one  possessed  of  immense  muscular 
strength.     Throughout  all  this  exploit,  the  least  giddi 
ness,  or  false  step,  would  have  precipitated  him  to  the 
earth  and  dashed  him  to  pieces. 

13.  During  the  fitting  out  of  the  armament,  various 

*  Pronounced  Oheda. 


OS 


LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 


disputes  occurred  between  Columbus  and  the  newly  ap 
pointed  officers  of  the  crown,  in  regard  to  the  expenses  of 
the  expedition,  and  his  own  retinue  as  viceroy.  Both 
Fonseca  and  Juan  de  Soria,  were  reprimanded  by  the 
sovereigns,  and  ordered  to  comply  in  every  thing  with 
the  wishes  of  Columbus. 

14.  They  were  deeply  mortified ;  and  from  this  trifling 
cause  arose  a  bitter  hostility  in  the  breast  of  Fonseca, 
against  the  admiral,  which  every  year  increased  in  ran 
cour,  and  which  his  official  station  enabled  him  to  grati 
fy  in  the  most  invidious  manner.  This  Fonseca  main 
tained  a  control  of  Indian  affairs  for  about  thirty  years, 
and,  in  the  gratification  of  his  private  resentments,  heap 
ed  wrongs  and  sorrows  on  the  heads  of  the  most  illus 
trious  of  the  early  discoverers. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Departure  of  Columbus  on  his  second  Voyage  of  Discovery. 
Arrival  at  Hispaniola.  [1493.] 

1.  THE  departure  of  Columbus  on  his  second  voyage 
of  discovery  presented  a  brilliant  contrast  to  his  gloomy 
embarkation  at  Palos.     On  the  25th  of  September,  at 
the  dawn  of  day,  the  bay  of  Cadiz  was  whitened  by  his 
fleet.     There  were  three  large  ships  of  heavy  burden, 
and  fourteen  caravels.     The  number  of  persons  permit 
ted  to  embark  had  originally  been  limited  to  one  thou 
sand  ;  but  many  volunteers  were  allowed  to  enlist  without 
pay,  others  got  on  board  of  the  ships  by  stealth,  so  that 
eventually  about  fifteen  hundred  set  sail  in  the  fleet. 

2.  All  were  full  of  animation,  and  took  a  gay  leave  of 
their  friends,  anticipating  a --prosperous  voyage  and  tri 
umphant  return.     Instead  of  being  regarded  by  the  popu 
lace  as  devoted  men,  bound  upon  a  dark  and  desperate 
enterprise,  they  were  contemplated  with  envy,  as  favour 
ed  mortals  destined   to  golden  regions  and   delightful 
climes,  where  nothing  but  wealth,  and  wonder,  and  en 
joyment  awaited  them. 


or  COLUMBUS.  69 

3.  Columbus  moved  among  the  throng  accompanied 
by  his  sons,  Diego  and  Fernando,  the  eldest  but  a  strip 
ling,  who  had  come  to  witness  his  departure.    Wherever 
he  passed,  every  eye  followed  him  with  admiration,  and 
every  tongue  extolled  and  blessed, him.     Before  sunrise 
the  whole  fleet  was   under  weigh;  the  weather  was 
serene  and  propitious,  and  as  the  populace  watched  their 
parting  sails,  brightening  in  the  morning  beams,  they 
looked  forward  to  their  joyful  return,  laden  with  the 
treasures  of  the  new  world. 

4.  Columbus  touched  at  the  Canary  islands,  where  he 
took  in  wood  and  water,  and  procured  live  stock,  plants, 
and  seeds,  to  be  propagated  in  Hispaniola.     On  the  13th 
of  October  he  lost  sight  of  the  island  cf  Ferro,  and, 
favoured  by  the  trade  winds,  was  borne  pleasantly  along, 
shaping  his  course  to  the  south-west,  hoping  to  fall  in 
with  the  islands  of  the  Caribs,  of  which  tie  had  received 
such  interesting  accounts  in  his  first  voyage.     At  the 
dawn  of  day  of  the  2d  of  November,  a  lofty  island  was 
descried  to  the  west,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Do 
minica,  from  having  discovered  it  on  Sunday. 

5.  As  the  ships  moved  gently  onward,  other  islands 
rose  to  sight,  one  after  another,  covered  with  forests,  and 
enlivened  by  flights  of  parrots  and  other  tropical  birds, 
while  the  whole  air  was  sweetened  by  the  fragrance  of  the 
breezes  which  passed  over  them.     These  were  a  part  of 
that  beautiful  cluster  of  islands  called  the  Antilles,  which 
sweep  almost  in  a  semicircle  from  the  eastern  end  of 
Porto  Rico,  to  the  coast  of  Paria  on  the  southern  conti 
nent,  forming  a  kind  of  barrier  between  the  main  ocean 
and  the  Caribbean  sea. 

6.  In  one  of  those  islands,  to  which  they  gave  the  name 
of  Guadaloupe,  the  Spaniards  first  mst  with  the  delicious 
anana,  or  pine  apple.     They  were  struck  with  horror, 
however,  at  the  sight  of  human  limbs  hanging  in  the 
houses,  and  others  broiling  or  roasting  at  the  fife.     Co 
lumbus  now  concluded  that  he  had  arrived  at  the  islands 
of  the  cannibals,  or  Caribs,  and  he  was  confirmed  in  this 
belief  by  several  captives  taken  by  his  men. 

7.  These  Caribs  were  the  most  ferocious  people  of 
these  seas ;  making  roving  expeditions  in  their  canoes 


70  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

to  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  leagues,  invading1 
the  islands,  ravaging  the  villages,  making  slaves  of  the 
youngest  and  handsomest  females,  and  carrying  off  the 
men  to  be  killed  and  eaten. 

8.  While  at  this  island,  a  party  of  eight  men,  strayed 
into  the  woods,  and  did  not  return  at  night  to  the  ships. 
On  the  following  day,  parties  were  sent  in  quest  of  them, 
each  with  a  trumpeter,  to  sound  calls  and  signals,  and 
guns  were  fired  from  the  ships,  but  all  to  no  purpose. 

9.  Alonzo  de  Ojeda  then  set  off  with  forty  men  into 
the  interior  of  the  island,  beating  up  the  forests,  and 
making  the  mountains  and  valleys  resound  with  trumpets 
and  fire-arms,  but  with  no  better  success.     Their  search 
was  rendered  excessively  toilsome  by  the  closeness  and 
luxuriance  of  the  forests,  and  by  the  windings  and  dou 
blings  of  the  streams. 

10.  Several  days  elapsed  without  tidings  of  the  strag 
glers,  and  Columbus,  giving  them  up  for  lost,  was  on  the 
point  of  sailing1,  when  they  made  their  way  back  to  the 
fleet,  haggard  and  exhausted.     For  several  days  they 
had  been  bewildered  in  the  mazes  of  a  forest  so  dense  as 
almost  to  exclude  the  day. 

11.  Some  of  them  had  climbed  trees  in  hopes  of  get 
ting  a  sight  of  the  stars  by  which  to  govern  their  course, 
but  the  height  of  the  branches  shut  out  all  view  of  the 
heavens.     They  were  almost  reduced  to  despair,  when 
they  fortunately  arrived  at  the  sea  shore,  and  keeping 
along  it,  came  to  where  the  fleet  was  at  anchor. 

12.  After  leaving  Gaudaloupe,  Columbus  touched  at 
other  of  the  Caribbean  islands.     At  one  of  them,  a  ship's 
boat,  sent  on  shore  for  water,  had  an  encounter  with  a 
canoe,  in  wrhich  were  a  few  Indians,  two  of  whom  were 
females.     The  women  fought  as  desperately  as  the  men, 
and  plied  their  bows  with  such  vigour,  that  one  of  them 
sent  an  arrow  through  a  Spanish  buckler,  and  wounded 
the  soldier  who  bore  it. 

13.  The  canoe  being  run  down  and  overset,  they  con 
tinued  to  fight  while  in  the  water,  gathering  themselves 
occasionally  on  sunken  rocks,  and  managing  their  wea 
pons  as  dexterously  as  if  they  had  been  on  firm  ground. 
It  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  they  could  be  overpow- 


OP   COLUMBUS.  71 

ered  and  taken.  When  brought  on  board  the  ships,  the 
Spaniards  could  not  but  admire  their  unta-med  spirit  and 
fierce  demeanour. 

14.  One  of  the  females,  from  the  reverence  with  which 
the  rest  treated  her,  appeared  to  be  their  queen  :  she  was 
accompanied  by  her  son,  a  young  man  strongly  made, 
with  a  haughty  and  frowning  brow,  who  had  been  wound 
ed  in  the  combat.     One  of  the  Indians  had  been  trans 
pierced  by  a  lance,  and  died  of  the  wound ;  and  one  of 
the  Spaniards  died  a  day  or  two  afterwards,  of  a  wound 
received  from  a  poisoned  arrow. 

15.  Pursuing  his  voyage,  Columbus  passed  by  a  clus 
ter  of  small  islands,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  The 
Eleven  Thousand  Virgins,  and  arrived  one  evening  in 
sight  of  a  great  island,  covered  with  fine  forests,  and  in 
dented  with  havens.     It  was  called  by  the  natives  Bori- 
quen,  and  is  the  same  since  known  by  the  name  of  Porto 
Rico.     After  running  along  its  beautiful  coast,  he  arrived 
off  the  eastern  extremity  of  Hayti,  or  Hispaniola. 

16.  Passing  by  the  gulf  of  Arrows,  where  the  skirmish 
had  occurred  with  the  natives,  Columbus  set  on  shore 
one  of  the  young  Indians  who  had  been  taken  from  the 
neighbourhood,  and  had  accompanied  him  to  Spain.    He 
dismissed  him  finely  apparelled  and  loaded  with  trinkets, 
anticipating  favourable  effects   from  the   accounts  he 
would  be  able  to  give  to  his  countrymen  of  the  power 
and  munificence  of  the  Spaniards,  but  he  never  heard 
any  thing  of  him  more. 

17.  Only  one  Indian,  of  those  who  had  been  to  Spain, 
remained  in  the  fleet,  a  young  Lucayan,  who  had  been 
baptized  at  Barcelona,  and  named  after  the  admiral's 
brother,  Diego  Colon ;  he  continued  always  faithful  and 
devoted  to  the  Spaniards. 

18.  Continuing  along  the  coast,  Columbus  landed  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  a  stream  said  to  abound  in  gold,  to 
which,  in  his  first  voyage,  he  had  given  the  name  of  Rio 
del  Oro.*     Here,  as  the  seamen  were  ranging  the  shore, 
they  found  the  bodies  of  three  men  and  a  boy,  one  of 
whom  had  a  rope  of  Spanish  grass  about  his  neck,  and 
another,  from  having  a  beard,  was  evidently  a  European. 

*  River  of  Gold. 


72  LIFE   AND  VOYAGES 

19.  The  bodies  were  in  a  state  of  decay,  but  bore  the 
marks  of  violence.  This  spectacle  gave  rise  to  many 
gloomy  forebodings,  and  Columbus  hastened  forward  to 
La  Navidad,  full  of  apprehensions  that  some  disaster  had 
befallen  Diego  de  Arana  and  his  companions. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Fate  of  the  Fortress  of  La  Navidad.     Transactions  at 
the  Harbour.  [1493.] 

1.  ON  the  evening  of  the  27th  of  November,  Colum 
bus  anchored  opposite  to  the  harbour  of  La  Navidad, 
about  a  league  from  the  land.     As  it  was  too  dark  to  dis 
tinguish  objects,  he  ordered  two  signal  guns  to  be  fired. 
The  report  echoed  along  the  shore,  but  there  was  no  gun, 
or  light,  or  friendly  shout  in  reply.     Several  hours  passed 
away  in  the  most  dismal  suspense  ;  about  midnight,  a 
number  of  Indians  came  off  in  a  canoe,  and  inquired  for 
the  admiral,  refusing  to  come  on  board  until  they  should 
see  him  personally. 

2.  Columbus  showed  himself  at  the  side  of  his  vessel, 
and  a  light  being  held  up,  his  countenance  and  command 
ing  person  were  not  to  be  mistaken.     The  Indians  now 
entered  the  ship  without  hesitation.     One  was  a  cousin 
of  the  cacique  Guacanagari,  and  the  bearer  of  a  present 
from  him. 

3.  The  first  inquiry  of  Columbus  was  concerning  the 
garrison.    He  was  informed  that  several  of  the  Spaniards 
had  died  of  sickness,  others  had  fallen  in  a  quarrel  among 
themselves,  and  others  had  removed  to  a  different  part  of 
the  island  ;  —  that  Guacanagari  had  been  assailed  by  Cao- 
nabo,  the  fierce  cacique  of  the  golden  mountains  of  Cibao, 
who  had  wounded  him  in  combat,  and  burnt  his  village, 
and  that  he  remained  ill  of  his  wound  in  a  neighbouring 
hamlet. 

4.  Melancholy  as  were  these  tidings,  they  relieved 
Columbus  from  the  painful  suspicion  of  treachery  on  the 
part  of  the  cacique  and  people,  and  gave  him  hopes  of 


OF    COLUMBUS.  73 

finding  some  of  the  scattered  garrison  still  alive.  The 
Indians  were  well  entertained,  and  gratified  with  presents ; 
on  departing  they  promised  to  return  in  the  morning 
with  Guacanagari. 

5.  The  morning,  however,  dawned  and  passed  away, 
and  the  day  declined,  without  the  promised  visit  from  the 
chieftain.     There  was  a  silence  and  an  air  of  desertion 
about  the  whole  neighbourhood.     Not  a  canoe  appeared 
in  the  harbour  ;  not  an  Indian  hailed  them  from  the  land  ; 
nor  was  there  any  smoke  to  be  seen  rising  from  among 
the  groves. 

6.  Towards  the  evening,  a  boat  was  sent  on  shore. 
The  crew  found  the  fortress  burnt  and  demolished,  the 
palisadoes  beaten  down,  and  the  ground  strewed  with 
broken  chests,  and  the  fragments  of  European  garments. 
Not  an  Indian  approached  them,  and  if  they  caught  a 
sight  of  any  lurking  among  the  trees,  they  vanished  on 
finding  themselves  perceived. 

7.  Columbus  himself  landed  on  the  following  morning, 
and,  repairing  to  the  ruins  of  the  fortress,  caused  diligent 
search  to  be  made  for  the  dead  bodies  of  the  garrison. 
Cannon  were  discharged  to  summon  any  survivors  that 
might  be  in  the  neighbourhood,  but  none  made  their  ap 
pearance.     Columbus  had  ordered  Arana  and  his  fellow 
officers,  in  case  of  sudden  danger,  to  bury  all  the  treasure 
they  might  possess,  or  throw  it  in  the  well  of  the  fortress. 
The  well  was  therefore  searched,  and  excavations  were 
made  among  the  ruins,  but  no  gold  was  to  be  found. 

8.  Not  far  from  the  fortress  the  bodies  of  eleven  Eu 
ropeans  were   discovered   buried    in   different   places, 
and  they  appeared  to  have  been  for  some  time  in  the 
ground.     In  the  houses  of  a  neighbouring  hamlet  were 
found  several  European  articles,  which  could  not  have 
been  procured  by  barter.     This  gave  suspicions  that  the 
fortress  had  been  plundered  by  the  Indians  in  the  vicinity. 

9.  At  length  a  communication  was  effected  with  some 
of  the  natives.     It  appeared,  from  their  storv,  that  Co 
lumbus  had  scarcely  set  sail  for  Spam,  when  all  his  coun 
sels  and  commands  faded  from  the  minds  of  those  who 
remained  behind.     Instead  of  cultivating  the  good  will 
of  the  natives,  they  endeavoured,  by  all  kinds  of  wrong. 

7 


74  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

ful  means,  to  get  possession  of  their  golden  ornaments 
and  other  articles  of  value,  and  seduced  from  them  their 
wives  and  daughters. 

10.  Fierce  brawls  occurred  between  themselves,  about 
their  ill-gotten  spoils,  or  the  favours  of  the  Indian  wo 
men.     In  vain  did  Diego  de  Arana  interpose  his  authori 
ty  ;  all  order,  all  subordination,  ail  unanimity,  were  at  an 
end.     Pedro  Gutierrez  and  Rodrigo  de  Escobedo,  whom 
Columbus  had  left  as  lieutenants  to  succeed  Arana  in  case 
of  accident,  now  aspired  to  an  equal  share  in  the  authority. 

11.  In  the  quarrels  which  succeeded,  a  Spaniard  was 
killed,  and  Gutierrez  and  Escobedo,  having  failed  in  their 
object,  withdrew  from  the  fortress,  with  nine  of  their  ad 
herents  and  a   number  of  women,  and  set  off  for  the 
mountains  of  Cibao,  with  the  idea  of  procuring  immense 
wealth  from  its  golden  mines. 

12.  These  mountains  were  in  the  territories  of  the 
famous  Caonabo,  called  by  the  Spaniards  "  the  lord  of  the 
golden  house."     He  was  a  Carib  by  birth,  and  had  come 
an  adventurer  to  the  island,  but,  possessing  the  fierce 
ness  and  enterprise  of  his  nation,  had  made  himself  the 
most  powerful  cacique.     The  wonderful  accounts  of  the 
white  men  had  reached  him  among  his  mountains,  and 
he  feared  such  formidable  intruders. 

13.  The  departure  of  Columbus  had  given  him  hopes 
that  their  intrusion  would  be  but  temporary ;  the  discords 
of  those  who  remained  increased  his  confidence.  No  soon 
er,  therefore,  did  Gutierrez  and  Escobedo,  with  their 
companions,  appear  in  his  dominions,  than  he  seized 
them  and  put  them  to  death.     He  then  assembled  his 
warriors,  traversed  the  forest  with  profound  secrecy,  and 
arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  La  Navidad  without  being 
discovered. 

14..  But  ten  men  remained  in  the  fortress  with  Arana ; 
the  rest  were  living  in  careless  security  in  the  village. 
In  the  dead  of  the  night  Caonabo  and  his  warriors  burst 
upon  the  place  with  frightful  yells,  and  set  fire  to  the  for 
tress  and  village.  j 

15.  The  Spaniards  were  taken  by  surprise.  Eight 
were  driven  into  the  sea,  and  drowned  ;  the  rest  were 
massacred.  Guacanagari  and  his  subjects  fought  faith- 


OF    COLUMBUS.  75 

fully  in  defence  of  their  guests,  but  were  easily  routed. 
The  cacique  was  wounded  in  the  conflict,  and  his  village 
burnt  to  the  ground. 

16.  Satisfied  by  this  account,  of  the  good  faith  of  Gua- 
canagari,  Columbus  visited  him  in  a  neighbouring  village, 
where  he  was  suffering  apparently  from  a  bruise  in  the 
leg,  received  in  the  battle.     He  was  greatly  agitated  on 
seeing  the  admiral,  and  deplored  with  tears  the  misfor 
tunes  of  the  garrison.  The  bandages  were  removed  from 
his  leg  by  a  Spanish  surgeon,  but  no  sign  of  a  wound  was 
to  be  seen,  though  he  shrunk  with  pain  whenever  the 
limb  was  touched. 

17.  Many  of  the  Spaniards  looked  upon  his  lameness 
as  feigned,  and  the  whole  story  of  the  battle  a  fabrication 
to  conceal  his  perfidy.     Columbus,  however,  persisted  in 
believing  him  innocent,  and  invited  him  on  board  of  his 
ships,  where  the  cacique  was  greatly  astonished  at  the 
wonders  of  art  and  nature  brought  from  the  old  world. 

18.  What  most  amazed  him  was  the  horses.     He  had 
never  seen  any  but  the  most  diminutive  quadrupeds,  and 
gazed  with  awe  at  the  grandeur  of  these  noble  animals, 
their  great  strength,  terrific  appearance,  yet  perfect  do 
cility.     The  sight  of  the  Carib  prisoners  also  increased 
his  idea  of  the  prowess  of  the  Spaniards,  who  had  the 
hardihood  to  invade  these  terrible  beings  even  in  their 
strong  holds,  while  he  could  scarcely  look  upon  them 
without  shuddering,  though  in  chains. 

19.  On  board  the  ship  were  several  Indian  women 
who  had  been  captives  to  the  Caribs.     Among  them  was 
one  distinguished  by  a  certain  loftiness  of  demeanour ; 
she  had  been  much  noticed  and  admired  by  the  Spaniards, 
who  had  given  her  the  name  of  Catalina.     She  particu 
larly  attracted  the  attention  of  the  cacique,  who  spoke  to 
her  repeatedly,  with  great  gentleness  of  tone  and  manner. 

20.  A  collation  was  served  up,  and  Columbus  endea 
voured  by  kindness  and  hospitality  to  revive  their  former 
cordial  intercourse,  but  the  cacique  was  evidently  dis 
trustful  and  ill  at  ease.   The  suspicions  of  his  guilt  grained 
ground  among  the  Spaniards.     Father  Boyle,  in  particu 
lar,  regarded  him  with  an  evil  eye,  and  advised  the  ad 
miral,  now  that  he  had  him  securely  on  board  of  his  ship, 


76  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

to  detain  him  prisoner ;  but  Columbus  rejected  the  coun 
sel  of  the  crafty  friar,  as  contrary  to  sound  policy  and 
honourable  faith. 

21.  The  cacique,  accustomed  in  his  former  intercourse 
with  the  Spaniards  to  meet  on  every  side  with  faces 
beaming  with  gratitude  and  friendship,  could  not  but 
perceive  the  altered  looks  of  cold  suspicion  and  secret 
hostility.     Notwithstanding  the  frank  and  cordial  hos 
pitality  of  the  admiral,  therefore,  he  soon  took  leave  and 
returned  to  land. 

22.  On   the   following   day  there  was  a  mysterious 
movement  and  agitation  among  the  natives  on  shore. 
The  brother  of  Guacanagari  came  on  board,  under  pre 
text  of  bartering  a  quantity  of  gold,  but  as  it  afterwards 
proved  to  bear  a  message  to  Catalina,  the  Indian  female, 
whose  beauty  had  captivated  the  heart  of  the  cacique, 
and  whom,  with  a  kind  of  native  gallantry,  he  wished  to 
deliver  from  bondage. 

23.  At  midnight,  when  the  crew  were  buried  in  their 
first  sleep,  Catalina  awakened  her  female  companions, 
and  proposed  a  bold  attempt  to  gain  their  liberty.     The 
ship  was  anchored  full  three  miles  from  the  shore,  and 
the  sea  was  rough ;  but  these  island  women  were  accus 
tomed  to  buffet  with  the  waves,  and  the  water  was  to 
them  almost  as  their  natural  element. 

24.  Letting  themselves  down  silently  from  the  side  of 
the  vessel,  they  trusted  to  the  strength  of  their  arms,  and 
swam  bravely  for  the  shore.     They  were  overheard  by 
the  watch,  the  alarm  was  given,  the  boats  were  manned 
and  gave  chase  in  the  direction  of  a  light  blazing  on  the 
shore,  an  evident  beacon  for  the  fugitives.     Such  was 
the   vigour  of  these  sea  nymphs,  however,  that  they 
readied  the  land  before  they  were  overtaken. 

25.  Four  were  captured  on  the  beach,  but  the  heroic 
Catalina,  with  the  rest  of  her  companions,  escaped  in 
safety  to  the  forest.     Guacanagari  disappeared  on  the 
same  day  with  all  his  household  and  effects,  and  it  was 
supposed  he  had  taken  refuge,  with  his  island  beauty,  in 
the  interior.     His  desertion  gave  redoubled  force  to  the 
doubts  heretofore  entertained,  and  he  was  generally  stig 
matized  as  the  perfidious  destroyer  of  the  garrison. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  77 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Founding  of  the  City  of  Isabella.     Discontents  of  the 
People.  [1493.] 

1.  THE  misfortunes  which  had  befallen  the  Spaniards, 
in  the  vicinity  of  this  harbour,  threw  a  gloom  over  the 
place,  and  it  was  considered  as  under  some  baneful  in 
fluence,  or  malignant  star.     The  situation,  too,  was  un 
healthy,  and  there  was  no  stone  in  the  neighbourhood 
for  building.     Columbus,  therefore,  removed  to  a  har 
bour  about  ten  leagues  east  of  Monte  Christi,  protected 
on  one  side  by  a  natural  rampart  of  rocks,  and  on  the 
other  by  an  impervious  forest,  with  a  fine  plain  in  the 
vicinity,  watered  by  two  rivers. 

2.  Here  the  troops  and  persons  to  be  employed  in  the 
colony  were  disembarked,  together  with  the  stores,  arms, 
ammunition,  and  live  stock.  An  encampment  was  formed, 
and  the  plan  of  a  town  traced  out,  and  commenced,  to 
which  Columbus  gave  the  name  of  Isabella,  in  honour  of 
his  royal  patroness. 

3.  The  public  edifices,  such  as  a  church,  a  storehouse, 
and 'a  residence  for  the  admiral,  were  constructed  of 
stone ;  the  rest  of  wood,  plaster,  reeds,  and  such  other 
materials  as  could  be  readily  procured. 

4.  For  a  time  every  one  exerted  himself  with  zeal ; 
but  maladies  soon  began  to  make  their   appearance. 
Many  had  suffered  from  sea  sickness,  and  the  long  con 
finement  on  board  of  the  ships  ;  others  from  the  exhala 
tions  of  a  hot  and  moist  climate,  dense  natural  forests, 
and  a  new,  rank  soil. 

5.  The  maladies  of  the  mind  also  mingled  with  those 
of  the  body.     Many,  as  has  been  shown,  had  embarked 
in  the  enterprise  with  the  most  visionary  and  romantic 
expectations.     What,  then,  was  their  surprise  at  finding 
themselves  surrounded  by  impracticable  forests,  doomed 
to  tcil  painfully  for  mere  subsistence,  and  to  attain  every 
comfort  by  the  severest  exertion  !  As  to  gold,  which  they 
uad  expected  to  find  readily  and  in  abundance,  it  was  to 
be  procured  only  in  small  quantities,  and  by  patient  and 
persevering'  labour. 

7* 


78  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

6.  All  these  disappointments  sank  deep  into  their 
hearts,  their  spirits  flagged  as  their  golden  dreams  melt 
ed  away,  and  the  gloom  of  despondency  aided  the  rava 
ges  of  disease.     Columbus  himself  was  confined  to  his 
bed  for  several  weeks  by  severe  illness ;  but  his  ener 
getic  mind  rose  superior  to  the  maladies  of  the  body,  and 
he  continued  to  give  directions  about  the  building  of  the 
city,  and  the  general  concerns  of  the  expedition. 

7.  The  greater  part  of  the  ships  were  ready  to  return 
to  Spain,  but  he  had  no  treasure  to  send  with  them.     It 
was  necessary  to  do  something,  however,  before  the  ves 
sels  sailed,  to  keep  up  the  reputation  of  his  discoveries. 
The  region  of  the  mines  lay  at  a  distance  of  but  three  or 
four  days'  journey,  directly  in  the  interior ;  he  determin 
ed  to  send  an  expedition  to  explore  it. 

8.  The  person  chosen  for  this  enterprise  was  Alonzo 
de  Ojeda,  who  delighted  in  all  service  of  an  adventurous 
nature.     He  set  out,  from  the  harbour  early  in  January, 
accompanied  by  a  small  number  of  welt-armed  men, 
several  of  them  young  and  spirited  cavaliers  like  himself. 
They  crossed  the  first  range  of  mountains  by  a  narrow 
and  winding  Indian  path,  and  descended  into  a  vast 
plain,  covered  with  noble  forests,  and  studded  with  vil 
lages  and  hamlets. 

9.  The  inhabitants  overwhelmed  them  with  hospital 
ity,  and  delayed  them  in  their  journey  by  their  kindness. 
They  had  to  ford  many  rivers  also,  so  that  they  were  six 
days'  in  reaching  the  chain  of  mountains,  which  locked 
up,  as  it  were,  the  golden  region  of  Cibao. 

10.  Here  they  saw  ample  signs  of  natural  wealth. 
The  sands  of  the  mountain  streams  contained  particles 
of  gold ;  in  some  places  they  picked  up  large  specimens* 
of  virgin  ore,  and  stones  streaked  and  richly  impregnated 
with  it.     Ojeda  himself  found  a  mass  of  rude  gold  in  one 
of  the  brooks  weighing  nine  ounces. 

11.  The  little  band  returned  to  the  harbour,  with  en 
thusiastic  accounts  of  the  golden  promise  of  these  moun 
tains.     A  young  cavalier,  named  Gorvalan,  who  had 
been  sent  to  explore  a  different  tract  of  country,  returned 
with  similar  reports.    Encouraged  by  these  good  tidings, 
Columbus  lost  no  time  in  despatching-  twelve  of  the  ships* 


OF   COLUMBUS.         .  79 

under  the  command  of  Antonio  de  Torres,  retaining1  only 
five  for  the  service  of  the  colony. 

12.  By  these  ships  he  sent  home  specimens  of  gold, 
and  of  fruits  and  plants  of  unknown  and  valuable  species, 
together  with  the  Carib  captives,  to  be  instructed  in  the 
Spanish  language  and  the  Christian  faith,  that  they  might 
serve  as  interpreters,  and  aid  in  the  conversion  of  their 
countrymen.     He  wrote  also  a  sanguine  account  of  the 
two  expeditions  into  the  interior,  and  expressed  a  confi 
dent  expectation  of  making  abundant  shipments  of  gold, 
spices,  and  valuable  drugs. 

13.  He  extolled  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  evinced  in  the 
luxuriant  growth  of  the  sugar-cane,  and  of  various  Eu 
ropean  grains  and  vegetables ;  but  entreated  supplies  of 
provisions  for  the  immediate  wants  of  the  colony,  as  their 
stores  were  nearly  exhausted,  and  they  could  not  accus 
tom  themselves  to  the  diet  of  the  natives. 

14.  In  his  anxiety  to  lighten  the  expenses  of  the  colo 
ny,  and  procure  revenue  to  the  crown,  he  recommended 
that  the  natives  of  the  Caribbean  islands,  being  cannibals 
and  ferocious  invaders  of  their  peaceful  neighbours, 
should  be  captured  and  sold  as  slaves,  or  exchanged  with 
merchants  for  live  stock  and  other  necessary  supplies. 
He  observed,  that,  by  transmitting  these  infidels  to  Eu 
rope,  where  they  would  have  the  benefits  of  Christian 
instruction,  there  would  be  so  many  souls  snatched  from 
perdition,  and  so  many  converts  gained  to  the  faith. 

15.  Such  is  the  strange  sophistry  by  which  upright 
men  may  deceive  themselves,  and  think  they  are  obey 
ing  the  dictates  of  their  conscience,  when,  in  fact,  they 
are  but  listening  to  the  incitements  of  their  interest.     It 
is  but  just  to  add,  that  the  sovereigns  did  not  accord  with 
him  in  his  ideas,  but  ordered  that  the  Caribs  should  be 
treated  like  the  rest  of  the  islanders  ;  a  command  which 
emanated  from  the  merciful  heart  of  Isabella,  who  ever 
showed  herself  the  benign  protectress  of  the  Indians. 

16.  When  the  fleet  arrived  in   Europe,  though  it 
brought  no  gold,  yet  the  tidings  from  Columbus  and  his 
companions  kept  up  the  popular  excitement.     There 
was  something  wonderfully  grand  in  the  idea  of  building 
cities,  extending  colonies,  and  sowing  the  seeds  of  civil- 


80  LIFE   AND   VOYAGES 

ization  and  of  enlightened  empire  in  this  beautiful  but 
savage  world. 

17.  It  struck  the  minds  of  learned  and  classical  men 
with  admiration,  filling  them  with  pleasant  dreams  and 
reveries,  and  seeming  to  realize  the  poetical  pictures  of 
the  dden  time ;  when  Saturn,  Ceres,  and  Triptolemus 
travelled  about  the  earth  to  spread  new  inventions  among' 
mankind. 

18.  But  while  sanguine  anticipations  were  indulged 
in  Europe,  murmuring  and  sedition  began,  to  prevail 
among  the  co]onists.     Disappointed  in  their  hopes  of 
wealth,  disgusted  with  the  labours  imposed  upon  them, 
and  appalled  by  the  prevalent  maladies,  they  looked  with 
horror  upon  the  surrounding  wilderness,  and  became  im 
patient  to  return  to  Spain. 

19.  Their  discontents  were  increased  by  one  Firmin 
Cado,  who  had  come  out  as  assayer  and  purifier  of  metals, 
but  whose  ignorance  in  his  art  equalled  his  obstinacy  of 
opinion.     He  insisted  that  there  was  scarcely  any  gold 
in  the  island,  and  that  all  the  specimens  brought  by  the 
natives  had  been  accumulated  in  the  course  of  several 
generations,  and  been  handed  down  from  father  to  son 
in  their  families. 

20.  At  length  a  conspiracy  was  formed,  headed  by 
Bernal  Diaz  de  Pisa,  the  comptroller,  to  take  advantage 
of  the  illness  of  Columbus,  to  seize  upon  the  ships  re 
maining  in  the  harbour,  and  to  return  to  Spain.     Fortu 
nately  Columbus  received  information  in  time,  and  ar 
rested  the  ringleaders.     Bernal  Diaz  was  confined  on 
board  of  one  of  the  ships,  to  be  sent  to  Spain  for  trial ; 
and  several  of  the  inferior  mutineers  were  punished,  but 
not  with  the  severity  their  offence  deserved. 

21.  This  was  the  first  time  Columbus  exercised  the 
right  of  punishing  delinquents  in  his  new  government, 
and  it  immediately  caused  a  great  clamour  against  him. 
Already  the  disadvantage  of  being  a  foreigner  was  clearly 
manifested.     He  had  no  natural  friends  to  rally  round 
him ;  whereas  the  mutineers  had  connexions  in  Spain, 
friends  in  the  colony)  and  met  with  sympathy  in  every 
discontented  mind. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  81 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Expedition  of  Columbus  into  the  Interior  of  Hispaniola. 
[1494.] 

1.  To  quiet  the  murmurs  and  rouse  the  spirits  of  his 
people,  Columbus,  as  soon  as  his  health  permitted,  made 
an  expedition  to  the  mountains  of  Cibao,  leaving-  his 
brother  Diego  in  command  at  Isabella.     He  departed,  on 
the  12th  of  March,  at  the  head  of  four  hundred  men, 
armed  with  helmets  and  corslets,  with  arquebuses,  lances, 
swords,  and  crossbows,  and  followed  by  labourers  and 
miners,  and  a  multitude  of  the  neighbouring  Indians. 

2.  After  traversing  a  plain,  and  fording  two  rivers, 
they  encamped  in  the  evening  at  the  foot  of  a  wild  pass  of 
the  mountains,  up  which  there  was  nothing  but  an  Indian 
foot-path  winding  among  rocks  and  precipices,  and  thick 
forests.   A  number  of  high  spirited  young  cavaliers  threw 
themselves  in  the  advance,  and  by  aiding  the  pioneers, 
and  stimulating  them  with  promises,  they  soon  construct 
ed  the  first  road  formed  by  Europeans  in  the  new  world, 
which,  in  commemoration  of  their  generous  zeal,  was 
called  the  Pass  of  the  Gentlemen.* 

3.  On  the  following  day  the  army  toiled  up  this  steep 
defile,  and  arrived  where  the  gorge  of  the  mountain  open 
ed  into  the  interior.     Here  a  glorious  prospect  burst  upon 
their  view.     Below  lay  a  vast  and  delicious  plain,  enam 
elled  with  all  the  rich   variety  of  tropical  vegetation. 
The  magnificent  forests  presented  that  mingled  beauty 
and  majesty  of  vegetable  forms  peculiar  to  these  generous 
climates. 

4.  Palms  of  prodigious  height,  and  spreading  maho 
gany  trees,  towered  from  amid  a  wilderness  of  variegated 
foliage.     Universal  freshness  and  verdure  were  main 
tained  by  numerous  streams  which  meandered  gleaming 
through  the  deep  bosom  of  the  woodland,  while  various 
villages  and  hamlets  seen  among  the  trees,  and  the  smoke 
of  others  rising  out  of  the  forests,  gave  signs  of  a  nume 
rous  population. 

*  El  Puerto  de  los  Hidalgos. 


82  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

5.  1%e  luxuriant  landscape  extended  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach,  until  it  appeared  to  melt  away  and  mingle 
with  the  horizon.     The  Spaniards  gazed  with  rapture 
upon  this  soft  voluptuous  country,  which  seemed   to 
realize  their  ideas  of  a  terrestrial  paradise ;  and  Colum 
bus,  struck  with  its  vast  extent,  gave  it  the  name  of  the 
Vega  Real,  or  Royal  Plain. 

6.  When  the  Indians  beheld  this  band  of  warriors, 
emerging  from  the  mountains  with  prancing  steeds  and 
floating  banners,  and  glittering  armour,  and  heard,  for 
the  first  time,  their  rocks  and  forests  echoing  to  the  din 
of  drum  and  trumpet,  they  were  bewildered  with  astonish 
ment.     The  horses,  especially,  excited  their  terror  and 
admiration.     They  at  first  supposed  the  rider  and  his 
steed  to  be  one  animal,  and  nothing  could  exceed  their 
surprise  on  seeing  the  horseman  dismount. 

7.  On  the  approach  of  the  Spaniards,  the  Indians  ge 
nerally  fled  with  terror,  but  their  fears  were  soon  dispelled ; 
they  then  absolutely  retarded  the  march  of  the  army  by 
their  hospitality  ;  nor  did  they  appear  to  have  any  idea  of 
receiving  a  recompense  for  the  provisions  they  furnished 
hi  abundance.     The  untutored  savage,  in  almost  every 
part  of  the  world,  scorns  to  make  a  traffic  k  of  hospitality. 

8.  After  marching  for  two  or  three  days  across  this 
noble  plain,  they  arrived  at  a  chain  of  lofty  and  rugged 
mountains,  amidst  which  lay  the  golden  region  of  Cibao. 
On  entering  this  vaunted  country,  the  whole  character  of 
the  scenery  changed,  as  if  nature  delighted  in  contra 
rieties,  and  displayed  a  miser-like  poverty  of  exterior, 
when  teeming  with  hidden  treasures. 

9.  Nothing  was  to  be  seen  but  chains  of  rocky  and 
sterile  mountains,  scantily  clothed  with  pines.     The  very 
name  of  the  country  bespoke  the  nature  of  the  soil ;  Ci 
bao,  in  the  language  of  the  natives,  signifying  a  stone. 
But  what  consoled  the  Spaniards  for  the  asperity  of  the 
soil,  was  to  observe  particles  of  gold  among  the  sands  of 
the  streams,  washed  down,  no  doubt,  from  the  mines  of  the 
mountains. 

10.  Choosing  a  situation  in   a  neighbourhood   that 
seemed  to  abound  in  mines,  Columbus  began  to  build  a 
fortress,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  St.  Thomas. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  83 

While  thus  occupied,  a  young  cavalier,  named  Juan 
de  Luxan,  with  a  small  band  of  armed  men,  explored 
the  province,  and  returned,  after  a  few  days,  with  the 
most  satisfactory  accounts.  The  forests  appeared  to 
abound  with  spices ;  the  trees  were  overrun  with  vines 
bearing  clusters  of  grapes  of  pleasant  flavour ;  while 
every  valley  and  glen  had  its  stream,  yielding  more  or 
less  gold  dust. 

11.  The  natives  of  the  surrounding  country  likewise 
flocked  to  the  fortress  of  St.  Thomas,  bringing  gold  to 
exchange  for  European  trinkets,  and  telling  of  regions 
where  it  was  to  be  found  in  large  masses.  As  usual, 
however,  these  golden  tracts  were  always  in  some  re 
mote  valley,  or  along  some  rugged  and  sequestered 
stream  ;  and  the  wealthiest  spot  was  sure*  to  lie  at  the 
greatest  distance, — for  the  land  of  promise  is  ever  beyond 
the  mountain. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Customs  and  Characteristics  of  the  Natives. 

1.  THE  fortress  of  St.  Thomas  being  nearly  completed, 
Columbus  left  it  in  command  of  Pedro  Margarite,  with  a 
garrison  of  fifty-six  men,  and  set  out  on  his  return  to 
Isabella.     He  paused  for  a  time  in  the  vega  to  establish 
routes  between  the  fortress  and  the  harbour ;  during 
which  time  he  sojourned  in  the  villages,  that  his  men 
might  become  accustomed  to  the  food  of  the  natives,  and 
that  a  mutual  good  will  might  grow  up  between  them. 

2.  Columbus  had  already  discovered  the  error  of  one 
of  his  opinions  concerning  these  islanders  formed  during 
his  first  voyage.     They  were  not  so  entirely  pacific,  nor 
so  ignorant  of  warlike  arts,  as  he  had  imagined  ;  general 
ly  speaking,  however,  they  were  mild  and  gentle  :  and 
here  a  few  particulars  concerning  them  may  be  acceptable. 

3.  They  believed  in  one  Supreme  Bein^f,  immortal, 
omnipotent,  and  invisible,  inhabiting  the  ~sky.     They 
never  addressed  their  worship  directly  to  him,  but  to  in- 


84  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

ferior  deities,  called  zemes,  or  mediators.  Each  cacique, 
each  family,  and  each  indivdual,  had  a  particular  zemi 
as  a  tutelary  or  protecting  genius  ;  whose  image,  gene 
rally  of  a  hideous  form,  was  placed  about  their  nouses, 
carved  on  their  furniture,  and  sometimes  bound  to  their 
foreheads  when  they  went  to  battle. 

4.  They  believed,  that  these  zemes  presided  over  every 
object  in  nature.     Some  had  sway  over  the  elements, 
causing  sterile  or  abundant  years,  sending  whirlwinds 
and  tempests  of  rain  and  thunder,  or  sweet  and  temperate 
breezes,  and  prolific  showers.     Some  governed  the  seas 
and  forests,  the   springs   and   fountains.     They  gave 
success  in  hunting  and  fishing ;  they  guided  the  moun 
tain  streams  into  safe  channels,  leading  them  to  meander 
peacefully  through  the  plains ;  or,  caused  them  to  burst 
forth  into  floods  and  torrents,   inundating  and  laying 
waste  the  valleys. 

5.  The  Indians  were  well  acquainted  with  the  medi 
cinal  properties  of  plants.     Their  priests  acted  as  phy 
sicians,  curing  diseases  with  simples,  but  making  use  of 
many  mysterious  rites  ;  chanting  and  burning  a  light  in 
the  chamber  of  the  patient,  and  pretending  to  exorcise 
the  malady,  and  tp  send  it  to  the  sea  or  to  the  mountain 
They  practised  also  many  deceptions,  making  the  idols 
to  speak  with  oracular  voice,  to  enforce  the  orders  of  the 
caciques. 

6.  Once  a  year  each  cacique  held  a  festival  in  honour 
of  his  zemi,  when  his  subjects  formed  a  procession  to  the 
temple,  arrayed  with  their  most  precious  ornaments  ; 
the  young  females,  carrying  baskets  of  cakes,  decorated 
with  flowers,  and  singing  as  they  advanced,  while  the 
cacique  beat  time  on  an  Indian  drum. 

7.  After  the  cakes  had  been  offered  to  the  zemi  they 
were  broken  and  distributed  among  the  people,  to  be  pre 
served  in  their  houses  as  charms  against  all  adverse  ac 
cidents.     The  young  females  then  danced  to  the  cadence 
of  songs  in  praise  of  their  deities,  and  of  the  heroic  ac 
tions  of  their  ancient  caciques ;  and  the  whole  ceremony 
concluded  by  a  grand  invocation  to  the  zemi  to  watch 
over  and  protect  the  nation. 

8.  The  natives  believed  their  island  of  Hayti  to  be  the 


OF   COLUMBUS.  85 

earliest  part  of  creation,  and  that  the  sun  and  moon  is 
sued  out  of  one  of  its  caverns  to  give  light  to  the  universe. 
This  'cavern  was  consecrated  as  a  temple  ;  two  idols 
were  placed  in  it,  and  the  walls  were  decorated  with 
green  branches.  In  times  of  great  drought  the  natives 
made  pilgrimages  and  processions  to  it,  with  songs  and 
dances,  and  offerings  of  fruit  and  flowers. 

9.  They  ascribed  to  another  cavern  the  origin  of  the 
human  race.     The  large  men,  they  said,  issued  from  a 
great  aperture  ;  the  little  men,  from  a  little  cranny.  For 
a  long  time  they  dared  venture  from  the  cavern  only  in 
the  night,  for  the  sight  of  the  sun  was  fatal  to  them,  pro 
ducing  wonderful  transformations. 

10.  One  of  their  number  having  lingered  on  a  river's 
bank,  where  he  was  fishing,  until  the  sun  had  risen,  was 
turned  into  a  bird  of  melodious  note,  which  yearly,  about 
the  time  of  his  transformation,  is  heard  singing  plain 
tively  in  the  night,  bewailing  his  misfortune.    This  is  the 
same  bird  which  Columbus  mistook  for  a  nightingale. 

11.  When  the  human  race  at  length  emerged  from 
the  cave,  they  wandered  about  disconsolately  without 
females,  until  coming  near  a  small  lake,  they  beheld  cer 
tain  animals  among  the  branches  of  the  trees,  which 
proved  to  be  women.     On  attempting  to  catch  them, 
however,  they  were  found  to  be  as  slippery  as  eels,  so 
that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  they  succeeded  in  se 
curing  four  of  them ;  and  from  these  slippery  females  the 
world  was  peopled. 

12.  Like  most  savage  nations,  they  had  a  tradition 
concerning  the  deluge.     There  once  lived  in  the  island, 
said  they,  a  mighty  cacique,  who  had  but  one  son.     De 
tecting  his  son  in  a  conspiracy  against  his  life,  he  slew 
him,  but  treasured  up  his  bones  in  a  gourd,  as  was  the 
custom  of  the  island. 

13.  Some  time  afterwards,  the  cacique  and  his  wife 
opened  the  gourd  to  mourn  over  the  remains  of  their 
son,  when,  to  their  surprise,  several  fish  leaped  out. 
Upon  this  the  discreet  cacique  closed  the  gourd,  and 
placed  it  on  the  top  of  his  hut ;  boasting  that  he  had  the 
sea  shut  up  within  it,  and  could  have  fish  whenever  he 
pleased. 

8 


86  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

14.  This  boast  unluckily  excited  the  curiosity  of  five 
brothers,  children  of  the  same  birth,  prying,  meddlesome 
fellows.     Watching  their  opportunity  when  the  cacique 
was  absent,  they  came  and  took  down  the  gourd  to  peep 
into  it. 

15.  In  their  hurry  they  let  it  fall,  and  it  was  dashed 
to  pieces ;   when  lo  !  to  their  astonishment  and  dismay, 
there  issued  forth  a  mighty  flood,  with  dolphins  and 
sharks,   and  tumbling   porpoises,   and  great   spouting 
whales ;  and  the  water  spread  until  it  overflowed  the 
earth,  and  formed  the  ocean,  leaving  only  the  tops  of  the 
mountains  uncovered,  which  are  the  present  islands. 

16.  They  had  singular  modes  of  treating  the  dying 
and  the  dead.     When  the  life  of  a  cacique  was  despaired 
of,  they  strangled  him  out  of  a  principle  of  respect,  ra 
ther  than  suffer  him  to  die  like  the  vulgar.     Common 
people,  in  like  situation,  were  extended  in  their  ham 
mocks,  bread  and  water  placed  beside  them,  and  they 
were  then  abandoned  to  die  in  solitude. 

17.  Sometimes  they  were  carried  to  the  cacique,  and 
if  he  permitted  them  the  distinction,  they  were  strangled. 
The  body  of  the  deceased  was  sometimes  consumed  with 
fire  in  his  habitation ;  sometimes  the  bones  were  retain 
ed,  or  the  head,  or  a  limb,  and  treasured  up  among  the 
family  relics.     After  the  death  of  a  cacique,  his  body  was 
opened,  dried  at  a  fire,  and  preserved. 

18.  They  had  confused  notions  of  the  existence  of  the 
soul  when  separated  from  the  body,  and  believed  in  ap 
paritions  of  the  deceased.     They  had  an  idea  that  the 
spirits  of  good  men  after  death  were  reunited  to  the  spi 
rits  of  their  ancestors  and  of  those  they  had  most  loved, 
and  were  transported  to  a  happy  region,  generally  sup 
posed  to  be  near  a  lake,  in  the  beautiful  province  of  Xa- 
ragua,  in  the  western  part  of  the  island.    Here  they  lived 
in  shady  and  bloomy  bowers,  with  lovely  females,  and 
banqueted  on  delicious  fruits. 

19.  The  dances  to  which  the  natives  were  so  addicted 
were  often  of  a  religious  and  mystic  nature.     In  these 
were  typified  their  historical  events  and  their  projected 
enterprises,  whether  of  war  or  hunting.    They  were  per 
formed  to  the  chant  of  ballads  handed  down  from  gene- 


OF   COLUMBUS.  87 

ration  to  generation ;  some  containing  their  notions  of 
theology  and  their  religious  fables ;  others  rehearsing 
the  deeds  of  their  ancestors.  These  rhymes  they  called 
areytos,  and  sang  them  to  the  accompaniment  of  rude 
timbrels  made  of  the  shells  of  certain  fishes,  or  to  the 
sound  of  a  drum  made  of  a  hollow  tree. 

20.  The  natives  appeared  to  the  Spaniards  to  be  an 
idle  and  improvident  race.     They  were  impatient  of  all 
kinds  of  labour,  scarcely  giving  themselves  the  trouble 
to  cultivate  the  yuca  root,  the  maize,  and  the  sweet  po 
tato,  which  formed  their  main  articles  of  food.     They 
loitered  away  existence  under  the  shade  of  their  trees, 
amusing  themselves  occasionally  with  games  and  dances. 

21.  In  fact,  they  were  destitute  of  all  powerful  motives 
to  toil,  being  free  from  most  of  those  wants  which  doom 
mankind,  in  civilized  life,  and  in  less  genial  climes,  to 
incessant  labour.     In  the  soft  region  of  the  vega,  the 
circling  seasons  brought  each  its  store  of  fruits,  and  while 
some  were  gathered  in  full  maturity,  others  were  ripening 
on  the  boughs,  and  buds  and  blossoms  gave  promise  of 
still  succeeding  abundance. 

22.  What  need  was  there  of  garnering  up  and  anx 
iously  providing  for  coming  days,  to  men  who  lived  amid 
a  perpetual  harvest  ]  What  need,  too,  of  toilfully  spin 
ning  or  labouring  at  the  loom,  where  a  genial  tempera 
ture  prevailed  throughout  the  year,  and  neither  nature 
nor  custom  prescribed  the  necessity  of  clothing? 

23.  The  hospitality  which  characterizes  men  in  such 
a  simple  and  easy  mode  of  existence  was  evinced  towards 
Columbus  and  his  followers,  during  their  sojourn  in  the 
vega.     Wherever  they  went,  it  was  a  continual  scene  of 
festivity  and  rejoicing ;  and  the  natives  hastened  from 
all  parts  to  lay  the  treasures  of  their  groves,  and  streams, 
and  mountains,  at  the  feet  of  beings  whom  they  still  con 
sidered  as  descended  from  the  skies,  to  bring  blessings 
to  their  island. 

24.  As  we  accompany  Columbus,  in  imagination,  ou 
his  return  over  the  rocky  height  from  whence  the  vega 
first  broke  upon  his  eye,  we  cannot  but  cast  back  a  look 
of  mingled  pity  and  admiration  over  this  beautiful  but 
devoted  region.     The  dream  of  natural  liberty  and  igno- 


88  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

rant  content  was  as  yet  unbroken,  but  the  fiat  had  gone 
forth  ;  the  white  man  had  penetrated  into  the  land  ;  ava 
rice,  and  pride,  and  ambition,  and  sordid  care,  and  pining 
labour,  were  soon  to  follow,  and  the  indolent  paradise  of 
the  Indian  was  about  to  disappear  for  ever. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Sickness  and  Discontent  at  tlie  Settlement  of  Isabella.  Pre 
parations  of  Columbus  for  a  Voyage  to  Cuba.  [1494.  J 

1.  SCARCELY  had  Columbus  returned  to  the  harbour, 
when  he  received  tidings  from  Pedro  Margarite,  that 
Caonabo  was  preparing  to  attack  fort  St.  Thomas.  From 
what  he  had  seen  of  the  natives,  however,  and  of  their 
fear  of  the  white  men  and  their  horses,  he  felt  little  un 
easiness,  and  contented  himself  with  sending  twenty  men 
to  the  fortress,  and  thirty  more  to  open  a  road  between 
it  and  the  harbour. 

2.  His  chief  anxiety  was  about  the  settlement.    Sick 
ness  prevailed  there,  and  the  stock  of  medicine  was  ex 
hausted.     Provisions  grew  scanty,  and  all  hands,  without 
exception,  were  put  upon  allowance.     This  caused  loud 
murmurs,  in  which  many  in  office  took  a  part,  who  ought 
to  have  been  foremost  in  supporting  measures  for  the 
common  safety.     Among  these  was  Friar  Boyle,  the 
Pope's  Vicar,  who  could  not  brook  being  put  on  the  same 
allowance  with  the  commonalty. 

3.  Further  measures  of  safety  increased  the  public 
irritation.     The  flour  was  exhausted  ;  a  mill  must  be  im 
mediately  erected  to  grind  the  corn.     Most  of  the  work 
men  were  ill.     In  this  emergency  every  one  in  health, 
without  distinction  of  persons,  was  called  upon  to  work. 
Numbers,  who  prided  themselves  upon  their  rank,  refused 
to  comply,  but  were  rigorously  compelled. 

4.  This  gave  deep  and  lasting  umbrage  to  the  proud 
cavaliers  in  the  colony,  and  their  relatives  in  Spain.    Co 
lumbus  was  inveighed  against  as  an  upstart  foreigner, 
inflated  with  sudden  authority,  and  eager  for  wealth,  who, 


OF   COLUMBUS.  Ob 

in  the  pursuit  of  his  own  ends,  trampled  upon  the  dignity 
of  Spanish  gentlemen,  and  insulted  the  honour  of  the 
nation. 

5.  The  fate,  in  truth,  of  many  of  the  young  cavaliers 
who  had  come  out  in  this  expedition,  deluded  by  roman 
tic  dreams,  was  lamentable  in  the  extreme.     Some  of 
them  had  been  brought  up  in  ease  and  indulgence,  and 
were  little  calculated  to  endure  the  hardships  of  the 
wilderness. 

6.  If  they  fell  ill,  their  case  soon  became  incurable. 
They  suffered  under  the  irritation  of  wounded  pride,  and 
the  morbid  melancholy  of  disappointed  hope  ;  their  sick 
bed  was  destitute  of  the  tender  care  and  soothing  atten 
tion  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed,  and  they  sank 
into  the  grave  in  all  the  sullenness  of  despair,  cursing  the 
day  that  they  had  left  their  country. 

7.  So  strong  an  effect  had  the  untimely  and  dreary 
death  of  these  cavaliers  upon  the  public  mind,  that  many 
years  afterwards,  when  the  settlement  of  Isabella  was 
abandoned,  and  had  fallen  to  ruins,  its  deserted  streets 
were  said  to  be  haunted  by  their  spectres,  walking  about 

'  in  ancient  Spanish  dresses,  with  long  rapiers  and  broad 
hats,  saluting  the  wayfarer  in  stately  and  mournful 
silence,  and  vanishing  on  being  accosted.  Their  melan 
choly  story  was  insidiously  made  use  of  by  the  enemies 
of  the  admiral ;  for  it  was  said  that  they  had  been  seduced 
from  their  homes  by  his  delusive  promises,  and  sacrificed 
by  him  to  his  private  interests. 

8.  Columbus  was  desirous  of  departing  on  a  voyage 
to  explore  the  coast  of  Cuba,  but  it  was  indispensable,  be 
fore  sailing,  to  place  the  affairs  of  the  island  in  a  state 
of  tranquillity.     For  this  purpose  he  determined  to  send 
all  the  men  that  could  be  spared  into  the  interior,  where 
they  could  subsist  among  the  natives,  and  become  accus 
tomed  to  their  diet,  while  their  force  would  overawe  any 
hostile  cacique. 

9.  A  little  army  was  accordingly  mustered  of  about 
four  hundred  men,  among  whom  were  sixteen  horsemen. 
These  were  to  be  commanded  by  Pedro  Margarite  ;  who 
was  to  go  from  province  to  province,  take  note  of  the  soil, 
climate,  and  productions,  preserve  strict  order  among  his 


90  LIFE    AND   VOYAGE? 

troops,  and  treat  the  natives  with  the  utmost  kindness 
and  justice. 

10.  Ojeda  set  off  to  conduct  this  force  to  the  fortress 
of  St.  Thomas,  where  he  was  to  suoceed  Margarite  in 
the  command.     On  his  way  he  learnt  that  three  Span 
iards  had  been  robbed  of  their  effects  by  five  Indians,  who 
had  undertaken  to  carry  them  across  a  river,  and  that 
the  delinquents  had  been  sheltered  by  their  cacique,  who 
shared  the  booty.    . 

11.  Ojeda  was  a  quick  soldier,  and  had  a  summary 
mode  of  dispensing  justice.    He  seized  one  of  the  thieves, 
ordered  his  ears  to  be  cut  off  in  the  public  square  of  the 
village,  and  sent  the  cacique,  with  his  son  and  nephew, 
in  chains  to  the  admiral. 

12.  Columbus  thought  it  necessary  to  make  an  exam 
ple  of  these  men,  to  deter  the  natives  in  future  from  mo 
lesting  the  Spaniards  that  might  be  scattered  about  the 
island.     He  ordered,  therefore,  that  they  should  be  taken 
to  the  public  square,  their  crime  proclaimed  by  the  crier, 
and  their  heads  struck  off.     At  the  place  of  execution,  a 
neighbouring  cacique,  friendly  to  the  parties,  interceded 
for  the  prisoners,  pledging  himself  that  the  offence  should 
not  be  repeated. 

13.  At  this  juncture  a  horseman  rode  into  the  town. 
He  came  from  the  fortress,  and,  in  passing  through  the 
village  of  the  captive  cacique,  had  found  five  Spaniards 
in  the  power  of  four  hundred  Indians.     He  charged  upon 
the  multitude,  put  them  to  flight,  wounded  several  with 
his  lance,  and  brought  off  his  countrymen  in  triumph. 

14.  Satisfied  by  this  circumstance,  that  nothing  was 
to  be  feared  from  this  timid  people,  provided  the  Span 
iards  conformed  to  the  orders  he  had  given  ;  and  thinking 
the  Indians  had  been  already  sufficiently  punished,  Co 
lumbus  made  a  merit  of  yielding  to  the  entreaties  of  the 
friendly  cacique,  and  released  the  prisoners. 

15.  He  now  formed  a  junto  to  govern  the  island  du 
ring  his  absence.     It  consisted  of  his  brother  Don  Diego 
as  president,  and  Father  Boyle,  Pedro  Fernandez  Coro 
nal,  Alonzo  Sanchez  Caravajal,  and  Juan  de  Luxan,  as 
counsellors. 

16.  Leaving  in  the  harbour  two  of  the  largest  ships, 


OF   COLUMBUS.  91 

he  took  with  him  three  small  vessels,  fit  to  run  into  the 
shallow  water  of  coasts  arid  rivers,  and  with  these  he  set 
sail  on  the  24th  of  April. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Cruise  of  Columbus  along  the  Southern  Coast  of  Cuba. 
[1494.] 

1.  THE  plan  of  the  present  expedition  of  Columbus 
was  to  revisit  Cuba  at  the  point  where  he  had  abandoned 
it  on  his  first  voyage,  and  thence  to  explore  it  on  the 
southern  side.     As  has  already  been  observed,  he  sup 
posed  it  to  be  a  continent,  and  the  extreme  end  of  Asia ; 
and  by  following1  its  shores  trusted  to  arrive  at  Mangi, 
and  Cathay,  and  other  rich  countries,  forming  part  of  the 
territories  of  the  Grand  Khan,  described  by  Marco  Polo. 

2.  Having  arrived  at  the  eastern  end  of  Cuba,  he 
sailed  along  the  southern  coast,  touching  once  or  twice 
in  the  harbours.     The  natives  crowded  to  the  shores, 
gazing  with  astonishment  at  the  ships  as  they  glided 
gently  along  at  no  great  distance.     They  held  up  fruits 
.and  other  provisions,  to  tempt  the  Spaniards  to  land ; 
while  others  came  off  in  canoes,  offering  various  refresh 
ments,  not  in  barter,  but  as  free  gifts.     On  inquiring  of 
them  for  gold,  they  uniformly  pointed  to  the  south,  inti 
mating  that  a  great  island  lay  in  that  direction,  where  it 
was  to  be  found  in  abundance. 

3.  On  the  3d  of  May,  therefore,  Columbus  turned  his 
prow  directly  south.     He  had  not  sailed  many  leagues 
before  the  blue  summits  of  Jamaica  began  to  rise  above 
the  horizon.     It  was  two  days  and  a  night,  however,  be 
fore  he  reached  it,  filled  with  admiration,  as  he  gradual 
ly  drew  near,  at  its  vast  extent,  the  beauty  of  its  moun 
tains,  the  majesty  of  its  forests,  and  the  great  number  of 
villages  which  animated  the  whole  face  of  the  country. 

4.  He  coasted  the  island  from  about  the  centre  to  the 
western  end.  The  natives  appeared  to  be  more  ingenious 
as  well  as  more  warlike  than  those  of  Cuba  and  Hayti. 


92  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

Their  canoes  were  constructed  with  more  art,  and  orna- 
mei  ited  at  the  bow  and  stern  with  carving  and  painting. 
Ma  ay  were  of  great  size,  hollowed  from  trunks  of  the 
ma  logany  and  other  magnificent  trees,  which  rise  like 
verdant  towers  amidst  the  rich  forests  of  the  tropics. 
Every  cacique  had  a  large  state  canoe  of  the  kind.  One 
measured  ninety-six  feet  in  length,  and  eight  feet  in 
breadth,  formed  of  a  single  tree. 

5.  ]Jeing  disappointed  in  his  hopes  of  finding  gold  in 
Jamaica,  Columbus  determined  to  return  to  Cuba.     AB 
he  was  about  to  leo.ve  the  island,  a  young  Indian  came 
off  to  the  ship,  and  begged  that  the  Spaniards  would  take 
him  with  them  to  their  country.     He  was  followed  by 
his  relatives  and  friends,  supplicating  him  to  abandon  his 
purpose.  For  some  time  he  was  distracted  between  con 
cern  for  their  distress,  and  an  ardent  desire  to  see  the 
home  of  the  wonderful  strangers. 

6.  Curiosity,  and  the  youthful  propensity  to  rove,  at 
length  prevailed  ;  he  tore  himself  from  the  embraces  of 
his  friends,  and  took  refuge  in  a  secret  part  of  the  ship, 
from  the  tears  a.nd  entreaties  of  his  sisters.     Touched  by 
this  scene  of  natural  affection,  and  pleased  with  the  con 
fiding  spirit  of  the  youth,  Columbus  ordered  that  he 
should  be  treated  with  especial  kindness. 

7.  Having  steered  again  for  Cuba,  Columbus,  on  the 
18th  of  May,  arrived  at  a  great  cape,  to  which  he  gave 
the  name  of  Cabo  de  la  Cruz,  which  it  still  retains. 
Coasting  to  the  west,  he  soon  got  entangled  in  a  labyrinth 
of  small  islands  and   keys ;  some  of  them  were  low, 
naked,   and  sandy,  others  covered   with   verdure,  and 
others  tufted  with  lofty  and  beautiful  forests. 

8.  As  the  ships  glided  along  the  smooth  and  glassy 
channels  which  separated  the  islands,  the  magnificence 
of  their  vegetation,  the  soft  odours  wafted  from  flowers, 
and  blossoms,  and  aromatic  shrubs,  the  splendid  plumage 
of  scarlet  cranes,  flamingoes,  and  other  tropical  birds,  and 
the  gaudy  clouds  of  butterflies,  all  resembled  what  is  de 
scribed  of  oriental  climes.     He  persuaded  himself,  there 
fore,  that  these  were  the  islands  mentioned  by  Marco 
Polo,  as  fringing  the  coast  of  Asia,  and  he  gave  the  clus 
ter  the  name  of  the  Queen's  Garden. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  93 

9.  Emerging  from  this  labyrinth,  Columbus  pursued 
his  voyage  with  a  prosperous  breeze  along  that  part  of 
the  southern  side  of  Cuba,  where,  for  nearly  thirty-five 
leagues,  the  navigation  is  free  from  banks  and  islands : 
to  his  left  was  the  broad  and  open  sea,  whose  dark-blue 
colour  gave  token  of  ample  depth ;  to  his  right  extended 
a  richly  wooded  country,  called  Ornofay,  with  noble 
mountains,  frequent  streams,  and  numerous  villages. 

10.  The  appearance  of  the  ships  spread  wonder  and 
joy  along  the  coast.     The  natives  came  off  swimming,  or 
in  canoes,  to  offer  fruits  and  other  presents.     After  the 
usual  evening  shower,  when  the  breeze  blew  from  the 
shore,  arid  brought  off  the  sweetness  of  the  land,  it  bore 
with  it  also  the  distant  songs  of  the  natives,  and  the  sound 
of  their  rude  music,  as  they  were  probably  celebrating, 
with  their  national  chants  and  dances,  the  arrival  of  these 
wonderful  strangers  on  their  coasts. 

11.  Animated  by  the  delusions  of  his  fancy,  Colum 
bus  continued  to  follow  up  this  supposed  continent  of 
Asia;   plunging  into  another  wilderness  of  keys   and 
islets  towards  the  western  end  of  Cuba,  and  exploring 
that  perplexed  and  lonely  coast,  whose  intricate  channels 
are  seldom  visited,  even  at  the  present  day,  except  by 
the  lurking  bark  of  the  smuggler  and  the  pirate. 

12.  In  this  navigation  he  had  to  contend  with  almost 
incredible  difficulties  and  perils ;  his  vessels  having  to 
be  warped  through  narrow  and  shallow  passages,  where 
they  frequently  ran  aground.     He  was  encouraged  to 
proceed  by  information  which  he  received,  or  fancied  he 
received,  from  the  natives,  concerning  a  country  farther 
on  called  Mangon,  where  the  people  wore  clothing,  and 
which  he  supposed  must  be  Mangi,  the  rich  Asiatic  pro 
vince  described  by  Marco  Polo. 

13.  His  crews  seem  to  have  partaken  of  his  delusion. 
One  day  while  a  party  on  shore  was  employed  m  cutting 
wood  arid  filling  water  casks,  an  archer  strayed  into  the 
forest,  with  his  crossbow,  in  search  of  game,  but  soon 
returned,  flying  in  breathless  terror. 

14.  He  declared  that  he  had  seen  through  an  opening 
glade  a  man  dressed  in  long  white  robes,  like  a  friar  of 
the  order  of  Mercy,  so  that  at  first  he  took  him  for  the 


94  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

chaplain  of  the  admiral.  He  was  followed  by  two  others 
dressed  in  white  tunics  reaching  to  their  knees,  and  all 
these  had  complexions  as  fair  as  Europeans.  Behind 
them  were  others,  to  the  number  of  thirty,  armed  with 
clubs  and  lances. 

15.  Two  parties  were  despatched,  well  armed,  on  the 
following  morning,  in  quest  of  these  people  in  white  :  the 
first  returned  unsuccessful  ;  the  other  brought  word  of 
having  tracked  the  footprints  of  some  large  animal  with 
claws,  supposed  by  them  to  have  been  either  a  lion  or  a 
griffin  ;  but  which  most  probably  was  an  alligator.     Dis 
mayed  at  the  sight,  they  hastened  back  to  the  sea  side. 

16.  As  no  tribe  of  Indians  wearing  clothing  was  ever 
discovered  in  Cuba,  it  is  probable  the  men  in  white  were 
nothing  else  than  a  flock  of  cranes,  magnified  by  the 
fears  of  the  wandering  archer.     These  birds,  like  the 
flamingoes,  feed  in  company,  with  one  stationed  at  a  dis 
tance  as  a  sentinel.     When  seen  through  an  opening  of 
the  woodlands,  standing  in  rows  in  a  shallow  glassy  pool, 
their  height  arid  erectness  give  them,  at  first  glance,  the 
semblance  of  human  figures. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Return  Voyage. 

1.  FIRMLY  convinced  that  he  was  coasting  the  shores 
of  Asia,  Columbus  hoped  by  continuing  on  to  arrive  at 
tb.e  Aurea  Chersonesus  of  the  ancients,  doubling  which, 
he  might  return  to  Europe  by  the  way  of  the  Red  sea  ; 
or,  circumnavigating  Africa,  he  might  pass  by  the  Por 
tuguese  as  they  were  groping  along  tho  coast  of  Guinea, 
and,  after  having  navigated  round  the  globe,  furl  his  ad 
venturous  sails  at  the  pillars  of  Hercules,  the  ne  plus  ultra 
of  the  ancient  world  ! 

2.  But,  though  his  fellow  voyagers  shared  his  opinion 
that  they  were  coasting  the  continent  of  Asia,  they  shrunk 
from  the  increasing  perils  of  the  voyage.     The  ships 
were  strained  and  crazed  ;  the  cables  and  rigging  much 
worn  ;  the  provisions  nearly  exhausted  ;  and  the  crews 


OF   COLUMBUS.  95 

worn  out  by  incessant  labour.  The  admiral,  therefore, 
was  finally  persuaded  to  abandon  all  further  prosecution 
of  the  voyage. 

3.  Before  he  turned  back,  however,  he  obliged  the  offi 
cers  and  seamen  to  sign  a  deposition,  declaring  their 
perfect  conviction  that  Cuba  was  a  continent,  the  begin 
ning  and  the  end  of  India.     This  singular  instrument 
was  signed  near  that  deep  bay  called  by  some  the  bay  of 
Philipina,  by  others,  of  Cortes. 

4.  At  this  very  time,  a  ship-boy  from  the  mast-head 
might  have  overlooked  the  group  of  islands  to  the  south, 
and  have  beheld  the  open  sea  beyond.     Had  Columbus 
continued  on  for  two  or  three  days  longer,  he  would  have 
passed  round  the  extremity  of  Cuba ;  his  illusion  would 
have  been  dispelled,  and  an  entirely  different  course  might 
have  been  given  to  his  subsequent  discoveries. 

5.  Returning  now  towards  the  east,  the  crew^s  suffered 
greatly  from  fatigue  and  scarcity  of  provisions,  until  they 
anchored  one  day  in  the  mouth  of  a  fine  river,  in  an  abun 
dant  country,  where  the  natives  soon  supplied  their  wants. 

6.  Here  Columbus  landed  one  Sunday  morning  to  erect 
a  cross,  as  was  his  custom  in  all  remarkable  places,  in 
token  of  having  brought  the  country  under  the  dominion 
of  the  Catholic  church.     He  was  met  by  the  cacique  and 
by  a  venerable  Indian  fourscore  years  of  age,  who  pre 
sented  him  with  a  string  of  their  mystic  beads,  and  a 
calibash  filled  with  delicate  fruit. 

7.  They  then  walked  with  him,  hand  in  hand,  to  a 
stately  grove  on  the  river  bank,  where  he  had  ordered 
grand  mass  to  be  performed.     The  assembled  natives 
looked  on  with  great  reverence.     When  the  ceremony 
was  ended,  the  old  man  of  fourscore  approached  Colum 
bus,  and  thus  addressed  him  : 

8.  I  am  told  that  thou  hast  come  to  these  lands  with  a 
mighty  force,  arid  hast  subdued  many  countries,  spread 
ing  great  fear  among  the  people.     Be  not,  however, 
vainglorious.     Know  that  the  souls  of  men  have  two 
journeys  to  perform  after  they  have  departed  from  the 
body ;  one  to  a  place  dismal,  foul,  and  covered  with  dark 
ness,  prepared  for  such  as  have  been  unjust  and  cruel  to 
their  fellow  men ;  the  other  full  of  delight,  for  such  as 


96  LIFE   AND   VOYAGES 

have  promoted  peace  on  earth.  If,  then,  thou  art  mortal, 
and  dost  expect  to  die,  beware  that  thou  hurt  no  man 
wrongfully,  neither  do  harm  to  those  who  have  done  no 
harm  to  thee. 

9.  This  speech  being-  interpreted  to  Columbus,  he  was 
moved  by  the  simple  eloquence  of  the  savage,  and  re 
joiced  to  hear  his  doctrine  of  the  future  state  of  the  soul, 
having  supposed  that  no  belief  of  the  kind  existed  among 
the  inhabitants  of  these  countries.     He  assured  the  old 
man  that  he  had  been  sent  by  his  sovereigns  to  teach 
them  the  true  religion,  to  protect  them  from  harm,  and 
to  subdue  their  enemies  the  Caribs. 

10.  The  venerable  Indian  was  astonished  to  learn  that 
the  admiral,  whom  he  had  considered  so  great  and  pow 
erful,  was  yet  but  a  subject ;  and  when  he  was  told  of  the 
grandeur  of  the  Spanish  monarchs,  and  of  the  wonders 
of  their  kingdom,  a  sudden  desire  seized  him  to  see  this 
marvellous  country,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  the  tears 
and  remonstrances  of  his  wife  and  children  could  dis 
suade  him  from  embarking. 

11.  After  leaving  this  river,  Columbus  stood  over  to 
Jamaica,  and  for  nearly  a  month  continued  beating  along 
its  southern  coast.     Anchoring  one  evening  in  a  great 
bay,  he  was  visited  by  a  cacique,  who  remained  until  a 
late  hour  conversing  with  the  Indian  interpreter,  about 
the  Spaniards  and  their  country,  and  their  prowess  in 
vanquishing  the  Caribs. 

12.  On  the  following  morning,  when  the  ships  were 
under  weigh,  three  canoes  issued  from  among  the  islands 
of  the  bay.     In  the  centre  one,  which  was  large,  and 
handsomely  carved  and  painted,  were  seated  the  cacique 
and  his  family,  consisting  of  two  daughters,  young  and 
beautiful,  two  sons,  and  five  brothers.     They  were  all 
arrayed  in  their  jewels,  and  attended  by  officers  deco 
rated  with  plumes  and  mantles  of  variegated  feathers. 

13.  The  standard-bearer  stood  in  the  prow  with  a 
fluttering  white  banner,  while  other  Indians,  fancifully 
painted,  beat  upon  tabors,  or  sounded  trumpets  of  fine 
black  wood  ingeniously  carved.     The  cacique,  entering 
on  board  of  the  ship,  distributed  presents  among  the 
crew,  and  thus  addressed  the  admiral : 


OF   COLUMBUS.  97 

14.  "  I  have  heard  of  the  irresistible  power  of  thy  sove 
reigns,  and  of  the  many  nations  thou  hast  subdued  in 
their  name.     Thou  hast  destroyed  the  dwellings  of  the 
Caribs,  slaying1  their  warriors,  and  carrying  their  wives 
and  children  into  captivity.     All  the  islands  are  in  dread 
of  thee,  for  who  can  withstand  thee,  now  that  thou  know- 
est  the  secrets  of  the  land,  and  the  weakness  of  the  peo 
ple  ?  Rather,  therefore,  than  thou  shouldst  take  away  my 
dominions,  I  will  embark  with  all  my  household  in  thy 
ships,  and  will  go  to  render  homage  to  thy  king  and  queen, 
and  behold  thy  country,  of  which  I  hear  such  wonders." 

15.  When,  however,  Columbus  beheld  the  wife,  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  the  cacique,  and  considered  to  what  ills 
they  would  be  exposed,  he  was  touched  with  compassion, 
and  determined  not  to  take  them  from  their  native  land. 
He  received  the  cacique  under  his  protection,  as  a  vassal 
of  his  sovereigns,  but  dismissed  him  for  the  present,  pro 
mising  that  at  some  future  time  he  would  return  and 
gratify  his  wishes. 

16.  After  leaving  Jamaica,  he  coasted  the  whole  of  the 
southern  side  of  Hayti,  and  experienced  great  hardships 
in  a  storm,  which  raged  for  several  days.     The  weather 
having  moderated,  he  set  sail  eastward,  with  the  inten 
tion  of  completing  the  discovery  of  the  Caribbee  islands. 

17.  The  fatigue,  however,  which  he  had  suffered,  both 
in  mind  and  body,  throughout  this  voyage,  had  secretly 
preyed  upon  his  health  ;  and  the  late  tempest  had  kept 
him  in  a  fever  of  anxiety.     He  had  shared  the  hardships 
of  the  commonest  sailor  ;  nay  more,  for  the  sailor,  after 
the  labours  of  his  watch,  slept  soundly,  while  the  anxious 
commander  had  to  maintain  a  constant  vigil,  through 
long  stormy  nights. 

18.  The  moment  he  was  relieved  from  all  solicitude, 
and  found  himself  in  a  tranquil  sea,  both  mind  and  body 
sank  exhausted  by  almost  superhuman  exertions.     He 
fell  into  a  deep  lethargy,  resembling  death  itself.     His 
crew  feared  that  death  was  really  at  hand.     They  aban 
doned,  therefore,  all  farther  prosecution  of  the  voyage, 
and  spreading  their  sails  to  a  favourable  breeze  from  the 
east,  bore  Columbus  back,  in  a  state  of  complete  insensi 
bility,  to  the  harbour  of  Isabella. 

9 


98  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Events  in  Hispaniola.     Insurrections  of  the  Natives. 
Expedition  of  Ojeda  against  Caonabo.  [1494.] 

1.  A  JOYFUL  and  heartfelt  surprise  awaited  Columbus 
on  his  arrival,  in  finding,  at  his  bedside,  his  brother  Bar 
tholomew,  from  whom  he  had  been  separated  for  several 
years.     It  will  be  recollected,  that  about  the  time  of  the 
admiral's  departure  for  Portugal,  he  sent  his  brother  to 
offer  his  project  of  discovery  to  the  court  of  England. 

2.  On  his  way  thither,  Bartholomew  was  captured  by 
a  corsair,  and  met  with  many  hardships,  so  that  years 
elapsed  bofore  he  was  able  to  lay  the  proposition  before 
king  Henry  VII.     That  monarch  promptly  agreed  to 
patronise  the  enterprise,  and  Bartholomew  returned  to 
Spain  in  quest  of  his  brother ;  but,  in  the  interim,  Co 
lumbus  had  made  his  discovery,  and  departed  on  his 
second  voyage. 

3.  Bartholomew  was  honourably  entertained  by  the 
Spanish  sovereigns,  and  despatched  with  three  ships, 
freighted  with  supplies  to  rejoin  his  brother.     He  again 
arrived  too  ]ate,  Columbus  having  departed  on  his  cruise 
along  the  coast  of  Cuba.     He  had,  therefore,  awaited  his 
return  at  Isabella. 

4.  It  was  an  inexpressible  relief  to  the  admiral  to  be 
rejoined  by  this   brother.     His   chief  dependence  had 
hitherto  been  upon  his  other  brother,  Diego ;  but  lie  was 
mild,  peaceable,  and  yielding,  ar.d  but  little  calculated  to 
manage  a  factious  colony  ;  Bartholomew  was  made  of 
sterner  stuff. 

5.  He  was  tall,  muscular,  and  vigorous,  with  a  com 
manding  air,  and  a  prompt,  active,  decided,  and  fearless 
spirit.     He  had  at  times  an  asperity  of  temper,  and 
abruptness  of  manners,  that  made  him  many  enemies ; 
yet,  he  was  generous  and  just,  free  from  arrogance  or 
malevolence,  and  as  placable  as  he  was  brave. 

6.  He  was  a  thorough  seaman,  both  in  theory  and 
practice,  having  been  formed,  in  a  great  measure,  under 
the  eye  of  the  admiral.     He  does  not  appear  to  have  been 


OF   COLUMBUS.  99 

highly  educated ;  his  knowledge,  like  that  of  his  brother, 
being  chiefly  derived  from  a  long  course  of  varied  expe 
rience  and  attentive  observation,  aided  by  the  studies  of 
maturer  years.  Equally  vigorous  and  penetrating  in  in 
tellect  with  the  admiral,  but  less  enthusiastic  in  spirit 
and  soaring  in  imagination,  he  surpassed  him  in  the 
adroit  management  of  business,  and  had  more  of  that 
worldly  wisdom  which  is  so  important  in  the  ordinary 
concerns  of  life. 

7.  Columbus  immediately  invested  his  brother  with  the 
title  and  authority  of  Adelantado,  an  office  equivalent  to 
that  of  lieutenant-governor.     He  felt  the  importance  of 
his  assistance  in  the  present  critical  state  of  the  colony ; 
for,  during  the  few  months  that  he  had  been  absent,  the 
whole  island  had  become  a  scene  of  violence  and  discord. 
A  brief  retrospect  is  here  necessary  to  explain  the  cause 
of  this  confusion. 

8.  Pedro  Margarite,  who  had  been  left  in  command  of 
the  greater  part  of  the  forces,  instead  of  proceeding,  as 
ordered,  on  a  military  tour  of  the  island,  lingered  among 
the  villages  of  the  vega,  where  he  and  his  soldiery,  by 
their  licentious  and  oppressive  conduct,  soon  roused  the 
indignation  of  the  natives. 

9.  Don  Diego  Columbus,  with  the  concurrence  of  the 
council,  wrote  to  Margarite,  reprehending  his  conduct, 
and  ordering  him  to  depart  on  his  tour.     Margarite  re 
plied  in  an  arrogant  tone,  pretending  to  consider  himself 
above  all  responsibility  to  Don  Diego,  or  his  council. 
He  was  supported  in  his  tone  of  defiance  by  a  kind  of 
aristocrat] cal  party  composed  of  the  idle  cavaliers  of  the 
colony,  who  affected  to  consider  Columbus  and  his  bro 
thers  mere  mercenary  and  upstart  foreigners. 

10.  In  addition  to  these  partisans,  Margarite  had  a 
powerful  ally  in  Friar  Boyle,  an  intriguing  man,  who  had 
conceived  a  violent  hostility  against  the  admiral,  and  had 
become  disgusted  with  his  mission  to  the  wilderness.    A 
cabal   was  soon   formed.     Margarite  and  Friar  Boyle 
acted  as  if  possessed  of  paramount  authority  ;  and,  taking 
possession  of  certain  ships  in  the  harbour,  set  sail  for 
Spain,  with  their  adherents. 

11.  The  army  being  left  without  a  head,  the  soldiers 


100  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

roved  about  in  bands,  or  singly,  according  to  their  caprice, 
indulging  in  all  kinds  of  excess.  At  length  the  Indians 
were  roused  to  resentment,  and,  from  confiding  and  hos 
pitable  hosts,  were  converted  into  vindictive  enemies. 

12.  They  slew  the  Spaniards  wherever  they  could 
surprise  them  ;  and  Guatiguana,  cacique  of  a  large  town 
on  the  Grand  River,  put  to  death  ton  soldiers  who  were 
quartered  in  his  town,  set  fire  to  a  house  in  which  forty 
sick  Spaniards  were  lodged,  and  even  held  a  small  for 
tress  called  Magdalena,  recently  built  in  the  vega,  in  a 
state  of  siege. 

13.  The  most  formidable  enemy  of  the  Spaniards  was 
Caonabo,  the  Carib  cacique  of  the  mountains.     Enraged 
at  seeing  the  fortress  of  St.  Thomas  erected  in  the  very 
centre  of  his  dominions ;  and  finding  by  his  spies  that 
the  garrison  was  reduced  to  but  fifty  men,  and  the  army 
of  Margarite  dismembered,  he  thought  to  strike  a  signal 
blow,  and  to  repeat  the  horrors  which  he  had  wreaked 
upon  La  Navidad. 

14.  The  wily  cacique,  however,  had  an  able  enemy  to 
deal  with  in  Alonzo  de  Ojeda.     In  addition  to  what  has 
already  been  said  of  this  daring  cavalier,  it  is  worthy  of 
note,  that  he  had  been  schooled  in  Moorish  warfare,  and 
was  versed  in  all  kinds  of  military  stratagems.     His 
courage  was  heightened  by  superstition.     Having  never 
received  a  wound  in  his  numerous  quarrels  and  encoun 
ters,  he  considered  himself  under  the  special  protection 
of  the  holy  Virgin,  and  that  no  weapon  had  power  to 
harm  him. 

15.  He  had  a  small  painting  of  the  Virgin,  which  he 
carried  constantly  in  his  knapsack,  and  would  often  take 
it  out,  fix  it  against  a  tree,  and  address  his  prayers  to  his 
military  patroness.     In  a  word,  he  swore  by  the  Virgin  ; 
he  invoked  the  Virgin  either  in  brawl  or  battle ;  and 
under  favour  of  the  Virgin  he  was  ready  for  any  enter 
prise  or  adventure.     Such  was  Alonzo  de  Ojeda,  bigoted 
in  devotion,  reckless  in  life,  fearless  in  spirit,  like  many 
of  the  roving  Spanish  cavaliers  of  those  days. 

16.  Having  assembled  ten  thousand  warriors,  Caonabo 
led  them  secretly  through  the  forest,  thinking  to  surprise 
Ojeda ;  but  he  "found  him  warily  drawn  up  within  his 


OF   COLUMBUS.  101 

fortress,  which  was  built  upon  a  hill,  and  nearly  surround 
ed  by  a  river. 

17.  He  then  held  the  fortress  in  siege  for  thirty  days, 
and  reduced  it  to  great  distress.     He  lost  many  of  his 
bravest  warriors,  however,  by  the  impetuous  sallies  of 
Ojeda ;  others  grew  weary  of  the  siege,  and  returned 
home.     He  at  length  relinquished  the  attempt,  and  re 
tired,  filled  with  admiration  of  the  prowess  of  Ojeda.    He 
now  urged  the  principal  caciques  to  unite  their  forces, 
surprise  the  settlement  of  Isabella,  and  massacre  the 
Spaniards  wherever  they  could  be  found.     To  explain 
this  combination,  it  is  necessary  to  state  the  internal  dis 
tribution  of  the  island. 

18.  It  was  divided  into  five  domains,  each  governed 
by  a  sovereign  "cacique,  having  many  inferior  caciques 
tributary  to  him.    The  most  important  domain  comprised 
the  middle  part  of  the  royal  vega,  and  was  governed  by 
Guarionex.     The  second  was  Marion,  under  the  sway 
of  Guacanagari,   on  whose  coast  Columbus   had  been 
wrecked. 

19.  The  third  was  Maguana,  which  included  the  gold 
mines  of  Cibao,  and  was  under  the  sway  of  Caonabo. 
The  fourth  was  Xaragua,  at  the  western  end   of  the 
island,  the  most  populous  and  extensive  of  all.     The 
sovereign  was  named  Behechio.     The  fifth  domain  was 
Higuey,  and  occupied  the   whole  eastern  part  of  the 
island,  but  had  not  as  yet  been  visited  by  the  Spaniards. 
The  name  of  the  cacique  was  Cotabanama. 

20.  Three  ofthese  sovereign  caciques  readily  entered 
into  the  league  with  Caonabo ;  but  he  met  with  unex 
pected  opposition  from  the  fifth  cacique,  Guacanagari. 
He  not  merely  refused  to  join  the  conspiracy,  but  enter 
tained  a  hundred  Spaniards  in  his  territory,  supplying 
all  their  wants  with  his  accustomed  generosity.     His 
refusal  prevented  the  conspiracy  from  being  carried  into 
immediate  effect ;  but  it  drew  upon  him  the  hatred  and 
hostility  of  his  fellow  caciflues.. 

21.  Such  was  the  critical  state  to  which  the  affairs  of 
the  island  had  been  reduced,  during  the  absence  of  Co^ 
lumbus.     Immediately  on  his  return,  Guacanagari  visited 
him,  and  revealed  the  designs  of  the  confederate  caciques, 

9* 


102  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

offering  to  lead  his  subjects  to  the  field,  and  to  fight  by 
the  side  of  the  Spaniards.  Columbus  was  rejoiced  to 
have  all  suspicion  of  his  good  faith  thus  effectually  dis 
pelled.  Their  former  amicable  intercourse  was  renewed, 
and  the  chieftain  ever  continued  to  evince  an  affectionate 
reverence  for  the  admiral. 

22.  Columbus  trusted  that  the  plans  of  the  caciques 
might  easily  be  disconcerted.     He  immediately  sent  a 
small  force,  who  drove  Guatiguana   from  before  Fort 
Magdalena,  ravaged  his  country,  and  slew  many  of  his 
warriors,  but  the  chieftain  made  his  escape. 

23.  As  he  was  tributary  to  Guarionex,  the  sovereign 
of  the  royal  vega,  care  was  taken  to  explain  to  that  pow 
erful  cacique,  that  this  was  an  act  of  individual  punish 
ment,  not  of  general  hostility.     Guarionex  was  easily 
soothed  and  won  to  friendship  ;  and  Columbus  prevailed 
upon  him  to  give  his  daughter  in  marriage  to  the  Indian 
who  had  been  baptized  in  Spain  by  the  name  of  Diego 
Colon,  and  who  was  devoted  to  the  Spaniards.    Pie  gain 
ed  permission  from  him  also  to  erect  a  fortress  in  the 
midst  of  his   territories,   which  he  named  Fort  Con 
ception. 

24.  The  most  formidable  enemy  remained  to  be  dis 
posed  of,  which  was  Caonabo;  to  make  war  upon  this 
fierce  and  subtle  chieftain  in  his  wild  woodland  territory, 
and  among  the  fastnesses  of  his  mountains,  would  be  a 
work  of  time  and  peril.    Yet  the  settlements  would  never 
be  safe  from  his  daring  enterprises,  nor  could  the  mines 
be  worked  with  security,  as  they  lay  in  his  neighbour 
hood.     While  perplexed  on  this  subject,  Columbus  was 
relieved  by  a  proposition  of  Alonzo  de  Ojeda,  who  un 
dertook  to  bring  the  Carib  chieftain  either  a  friend  or 
captive  to  the  settlement. 

25.  Choosing  ten  bold  and  haray  followers,  well  arm 
ed  and  well  mounted,  Ojeda  plunged  into  the  forest,  and 
making  his  way  above  sixty  leagues  into  the  wild  terri 
tories  of  Caonabo,  appeared  fearlessly  before  the  cacique 
in  one  of  his  most  populous  towns,  professing  to  come  on 
an  amicable  embassy  from  the  admiral.     He  was  well 
received  by  Caonabo,  who  had  tried  him  in  battle,  and 
had  conceived  a  warrior's  admiration  of  him. 


OP   COLUMBUS.  103 

26.  His  dauntless  deportment,  great  personal  strength 
and  agility,  and  surprising  adroitness  in  all  manly  and 
warlike  exercises,  were  calculated  to  charm  a  savage, 
and  soon  made  him  a  favourite  with  Caonabo.     He  used 
all  his  influence  to  prevail  upon  the  cacique  to  repair  to 
Isabella,  and  enter  into  a  treaty  with  Columbus,  offering 
him,  as  an  inducement,  the  befl  of  the  chapel  at  the  har. 
bour. 

27.  This  bell  was  the  wonder  of  the  island.    When  its 
melody  sounded  through  the  forests,  the  Indians  noticed 
that  the  Spaniards  hastened  from  all  parts  to  the  chapel. 
At  other  times,  when  it  gave  the  vesper  peal,  they  be 
held  the  Spaniards  pause  in  the  midst  of  their  labours  or 
amusements,  and,  taking  off  their  hats,  repeat  a  prayer 
with  great  devotion. 

28.  They  imagined,  therefore,  that  this  bell  had  some 
mysterious  power ;  that  it  had  come  from  "  Turey,"  or 
the  skies,  and  was  the  zemi  of  the  white  men ;  that  it 
talked  to  them,  and  they  obeyed  its  orders.     Caonabo 
longed  to  see  this  bell,  and  when  it  was  proffered  to  him 
as  a  present  of  peace,  he  found  it  impossible  to  resist  the 
temptation. 

29.  He  agreed  to  visit  the  admiral  at  the  harbour ;  but 
when  the  time  came  to  depart,  Ojeda  beheld  with  sur 
prise  a  powerful  army  ready  to  march.     He  remonstrated 
on  taking  such  a  force  on  a  mere  friendly  visit ;  to  which 
the  cacique  proudly  replied,  "  that  it  was  not  befitting  a 
great  prince  like  him  to  go  forth  scantily  guarded ."    Oje 
da  feared  some  sinister  design,  and  resolved  to  outwit 
the  cacique. 

30.  As  the  army  had  halted  one  day  near  a  river,  he 
produced  a  set  of  manacles  of*  polished  steel,  which  he 
pretended  were  ornaments  worn  by  the  Castilian  mon- 
archs  on  high  festivities.     He  proposed  that  Caonabo 
should  be  decorated  with  them,  mounted  on  the  horse  of 
Ojeda,   and  conducted  back  in   state   to   astonish  his 
subjects. 

31.  The  cacique  was  dazzled  with  the  splendour  of  the 
shackles,  and  pleased  with  the  idea  of  bestriding  cne  of 
those  tremendous  animals  so  dreaded  by  his  countrymen. 
After  bathing  in  the  river,  he  mounted  behind  Ojeda,  and 


104  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

the  shackles  were  adjusted.  The  Spaniards  then  pran 
ced  among  the  astonished  savages,  and  made  a  wide 
sweep  into  the  forest,  until  the  trees  concealed  them  from 
sight.  Then  drawing  their  swords,  and  closing  round 
Caonabo,  they  threatened  him  with  instant  death,  if  he 
made  the  least  noise  or  resistance. 

32.  Having  bound  him  with  cords  to  Ojeda,  to  prevent 
his  falling  or  effecting  an  escape,  they  put  spurs  to  their 
horses,  dashed  across  the  river,  and  made  off  through  the 
woods  with  their  prize.     After  a  long,  rugged,  and  per 
ilous  journey,  they  entered  Isabella  in  triumph;  Ojeda 
bringing  the  wild  Indian  chieftain  bound  behind  him. 

33.  The  haughty  Carib  met  Columbus  with  a  lofty 
and  unsubdued  air,  nor  could  he  ever  be  brought  to  show 
him  any  submission.     If  the  admiral  entered  his  prison, 
though  every  one  else  rose  to  salute  him,  the  cacique 
remained  seated.     On  the  contrary,  if  Ojeda  entered, 
though  small  in  stature  and  destitute  of  state,  he  rose 
and  paid  him  the  greatest  reverence. 

34.  Being  asked  the  reason  of  this,  seeing  that  Colum 
bus  was  the  commander  and  Ojeda  but  an  inferior,  he 
replied  scornfully,  that  Columbus  had  not  dared  to  meet 
him  in  the  field,  but  had  employed  Ojeda.     The  latter, 
therefore,  was  the  warrior,  and  had  made  him  prisoner : 
to  him  alone  would  he  pay  homage. 

35.  He  never  showed  the  least  animosity  against  Ojeda 
for  the  artifice  he  had  used.     On  the  contrary,  he  looked 
upon  it  as  the  exploit  of  a  master  spirit,  to  pounce  upon 
him  and  bear  him  off  in  this  hawk  like  manner  from  the 
midst  of  his  warriors ;  for  there  is  nothing  an  Indian  more 
admires  in  warfare,  than  a  deep  laid  and  well  executed 
stratagem. 

36.  Columbus,  though  struck  with  the  natural  heroism 
of  this  savage,  considered  him  too  dangerous  an  enemy 
to  be  left  at  large.     He  maintained  him,  therefore,  a 
close  prisoner  in  a  part  of  his  own  dwelling,  until  he 
could  be  shipped  to  Spain,  but  treated  him  with  great 
kindness  and  respect, 


OF   COLUMBUS.  105 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Battle  of  the  Vega.     Imposition  of  Tribute.  [1494.] 

1.  THE  colony  about  this  time  was  greatly  relieved  by 
the  arrival  of  four  ships  commanded  by  Antonio  Torres, 
bringing  out  medical  aid  and  provisions,  with  various 
artisans  and  husbandmen.     By  the  same  arrival  Colum 
bus  received  letters  from  the  sovereigns,  approving  of  all 
that  he  had  done.     They  informed  him,  that  their  diffe 
rences  with  Portugal  had  been  amicably  adjusted,  and 
invited  him  to  return  to  Spain,  or  to  send  some  able  per 
son  in  his  place,  to  attend  a  convention  for  settling  the 
dividing  line  of  discovery  between  the  two  powers. 

2.  Columbus  hastened  the  return  of  the  ships,  and 
sent  his  brother  Diego  to  attend  the  convention.     He  re 
mitted,  at  the  same  time,  all  the  gold  he  could  collect, 
with  specimens  of  fruits  and  valuable  plants.     He  also 
sent  five  hundred  Indian  captives,  to  be  sold  as  slaves  in 
Seville. 

3.  It  is  painful  to  find  the  glory  of  Columbus   sullied 
by  such  violations  of  the  laws  of  humanity,  but  the  cus 
toms  of  the  times  must  plead  his  apology.     In  the  recent 
discoveries  along  the  coast  of  Africa,  the  traffick  in  slaves 
had  formed  one  of  the  greatest  sources  of  profit ;  and  in 
the  wars  with  the  enlightened  and  highly  civilized  Moors 
of  Granada,  the  Spaniards  were  accustomed  to  make 
slaves  of  their  prisoners. 

4.  Tidings  were  now  brought  to  the  harbour  that  the 
allied  caciques,  headed  by  Manicaotex,  the  brother  of 
Caonabo,  had  assembled  their  forces  in  the  vega,  to  make 
a  grand  assault   upon  the  settlement.     Columbus  had 
now  recovered  his  health,  and  determined  to  take  the 
field.     All  the  efficient  force  he  could  muster,  was  two 
hundred  and  twenty  men ;  but  of  these  twenty  were 
horsemen. 

5.  There  were   twenty  bloodhounds,    also,   animals 
scarcely  less  terrible  to  the  Indians  than  horses,  and  in 
finitely  more  destructive.     With  this  force  he  sallied 
forth  from  Isabella,  accompanied  by  his  brother,  the  Ade- 


106  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

lantado.  Guacanagari,  also,  joined  him  with  his  people ; 
but  both  he  and  his  subjects  were  of  an  unwarlike 
character. 

6.  They  found  the  enemy  assembled  in  great  force  in 
the   vega,  within   two  days   march   of  Isabella.     The 
number  is  said  to  have  amounted  to  one  hundred  thou 
sand,  but  this  is  probably  an  exaggeration.     They  were 
armed  as  usual,  with  clubs,  stones,  bows  and  arrows,  and 
lances. 

7.  The  Adelantado  arranged   the   mode   of  attack. 
The  infantry,  divided  into  small  detachments,  advanced 
suddenly  from  various  quarters,  with  great  din  of  drums 
and  trumpets,  and  a  destructive  discharge  of  fire-arms. 
The  Indians  were  struck  with  panic.     An  army  seemed 
pressing  upon  them  from  every  direction. 

8.  In  the  height  of  their  confusion,  Alonzo  de  Ojeda 
charged  with  his  cavalry,  bearing  down  and  trampling 
them  under  foot,  and  dealing  deadly  blows  with  lance 
and  sword.     The  bloodhounds,  too,  were  let  loose,  and 
rushed  upon  the  naked  savages,  seizing  them  by  the 
throat,  dragging  them  to  the  earth,  and  tearing  out  their 
bowels. 

9.  The  battle,  if  such  it  might  be  called,  was  of  short 
duration.     The  Indians  fled  in  every  direction,  with  yells 
and  howiings.     Some  clambered  to  the  tops  of  rocks  and 
precipices,  from  whence  they  made  piteous  supplications 
and  promises  of  submission.     Many  were  slain,  many 
made  prisoners,  and  the  confederacy  was,  for  the  time, 
completely  broken  up. 

10.  Guacanagari  was  little  more  than  a  spectator  of 
the  battle.     His  participation  in  the  hostilities  of  the 
white  men,  however,  was  never  forgiven  by  the  other 
caciques  ;  and  he  returned  to  his  dominions,  hated  and 
execrated  by  his  countrymen. 

11.  Columbus  followed  up  his  victory  by  marching 
through  various  parts  of  the  island,  and  reducing  them  to 
subjection.     He  then  exercised  what  he  considered  the 
right  of  a  conqueror,  and  imposed  tributes  on  the  van 
quished  provinces.     In  those  which   possessed   mines, 
each  individual,  above  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  was 
obliged  to  render,  every  three  months,  the  measure  of  a 


OP    COLUMBUS.  107 

Flemish  hawk's  bell  of  gold  dust.*     The  caciques  had 
to  pay  a  much  larger  amount  for  their  personal  tribute. 

12.  In  other  provinces,  each  individual  was  obliged  to 
furnish  twenty-five  pounds  of  cotton  every  three  months. 
A  copper  medal,  suspended  about  the  neck,  was  a  proof 
that  an  Indian  had  paid  his  tribute  ;  any  one  found  with 
out  such  certificate  was  liable  to  arrest  and  punishment, 
Various  fortresses  were  erected  in  the  most  important 
places,  so  as  to  keep  the  Indians  in  complete  subjection. 
In  this  way  the  yoke  of  servitude  was  completely  fixed 
upon  the  island. 

13.  Deep  despair  now  fell  upon  the  natives.     Weak 
and  indolent  by  nature,  and  brought  up  in  the  untasked 
idleness  of  their  soft  climate  and  their  fruitful  groves, 
death  itself  seemed  preferable  to  a  life  of  toil  and  anxiety. 
They  saw  no  end  to  this  harassing  evil,  which  had  so  sud 
denly  fallen  upon  them ;  no  prospect  of  return  to  that 
roving  independence  and  ample  leisure,  so  dear  to  the 
wild  inhabitant  of  the  forest. 

14.  The  pleasant  life  of  the  island  was  at  an  end  ; — 
the  dream  in  the  shade  by  day  ;  the  slumber,  during  the 
sultry  noon-tide  heat,  by  the  fountain  or  the  stream,  or 
under  the  spreading  palm  tree  ;  and  the  song,  the  dance, 
and  the  game  in  the  mellow  evening,  when  summoned  to 
their  simple  amusements  by  the  rude  Indian  drum. 

15.  Or,  if  they  occasionally  indulged  in  a  national 
dance,  after  a  day  of  painful  toil,  the  ballads  to  which  they 
kept  time  were  of  a  melancholy  and  plaintive  character. 
They  spoke  of  the  times  that  were  past,  before  the  white 
men   had  introduced   sorrow,  and  slavery,  and  weary 
labour  among  them. 

16.  Sometimes  they  rehearsed  pretended  prophecies 
of  days  of  old,  foretelling  that  strangers  should  come  into 
their   island,  with   swords  capable  of  cleaving  a   man 
asunder  at  a  blow,  under  whose  yoke  their  race  should 
be  suddued  and  pass  away.     These  ballads,  or  areytos, 
they  sung  with  mournful  tunes  and  doleful  voices,  bewail 
ing  the  loss  of  their  liberty  and  their  painful  servitude. 

17.  They  had  flattered  themselves,  for  a  time,  that  the 
visit  of  the  strangers  would  be  but  temporary,  and  that, 

*  Equal  in  value  to  fifteen  dollars  of  the  present  time. 


108  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

spreading  their  ample  sails,  their  ships  would  soon  waft 
them  back  to  their  home  in  the  sky.  In  their  simplicity 
they  had  repeatedly  inquired  of  the  Spaniards  when  they 
intended  to  return  to  Turey,  or  the  heavens. 

18.  All  such  hope  was  now  at  an  end ;  and,  finding- 
how  vain  was  every  attempt  to  deliver  themselves  from 
th^ir  invaders  by  warlike  means,  they  now  endeavoured 
to  produce  a  famine.     For  this  purpose,  they  destroyed 
their  fields  of  maize,  stripped  the  trees  of  their  fruit,  pull 
ed  up  the  yuca  and  other  nutritious  roots,  and  then 
fled  to  the  mountains. 

19.  The  Spaniards  were  indeed  reduced  to  much  dis 
tress,  but  were  partially  relieved  by  supplies  from  Spain. 
They  pursued  the  natives  to  their  mountain  retreats,  and 
hunted  them  from  one  fastness  to  another,  until  thou 
sands  perished  in  dens  and  caverns  of  famine  and  sick 
ness,  and  the  survivors  submitted  humbly  to  the  yoke 
So  deep  an  awe  did  they  conceive  of  their  conquerors, 
that  it  is  said  a  Spaniard  might  go  singly  and  securely 
all  over  the  island,  and  the  natives  would  even  trans 
port  him  from  place  to  place  on  their  shoulders. 

20.  Before  passing  on  to  other  events,  it  may  be  pro 
per  here  to  notice  the  fate  of  Guacanagari,  as  he  makes 
no  further  appearance  in  the  course  of  this  history.  His 
friendship  for  the  Spaniards  severed  him  from  his  coun 
trymen,  but  it  did  not  exempt  him  from  the  general 
woes  of  the  island.  At  a  time  when  Columbus  was  ab 
sent,  the  Spaniards  exacted  a  tribute  from  him,  which 
his  people  found  it  difficult  and  distressing  to  pay. 

21.  Unable  to  bear  the  murmurs  of  his  subjects,  the 
hostilities  of  his  fellow  caciques,  the  extortions  of 
his  ungrateful   allies,   and  the  sight  of  the  various 
miseries  which  he  felt  as  if  he  had  invoked  upon  his 
race,  he  retired  to  the  mountains,  where  it  is  said  he 
died  obscurely  and  in  misery. 

22.  An  attempt  has  been  made  oy  a  Spanish  historian 
to  defame  the  character  of  this  Indian  prince ;  but  it  is 
not  for  Spaniards  to  excuse  their  own  ingratitude  by 
casting  a  stigma  upon  his  name.     He  appears  to  have 
always  manifested  towards  them  that  true  friendship 
which  shines  brightest  in  the  dark  days  of  adversity. 


OF    COLUMBUS.  109 

23.  He  might  have  acted  a  nobler  part,  in  making  a 
stand,  with  his  brother  caciques,  to  drive  those  intruders 
from  his  native  soil  ;  but  he  appears  to  have  been  blind 
ed  by  his  admiration  of  them,  and  his  personal  attachment 
to  Columbus.  He  was  bountiful,  hospitable,  affectionate, 
and  kind-hearted  ;  competent  to  rule  a  gentle  and  un- 
warlike  people  in  the  happier  days  of  the  island,  but  un 
fitted,  through  the  mildness  of  his  nature,  for  the  stern 
turmoil  which  followed  the  arrival  of  the  white  men. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Arrival  of  the  Commissioner  Aguado.     Discovery  of  the 
Gold  Mines  of  Hayna.  [1495.] 

1.  WHILE  Columbus  was  endeavouring  to  remedy  the 
evils  produced  by  the  misconduct  of  Margarite  and  his 
followers,  that  recreant  commander,  and  Friar  Boyle, 
were  busily  undermining  his  reputation  in  the  court  of 
Spain.     They  accused  him  of  deceiving  the  sovereigns 
and  the  public  by  extravagant  descriptions  of  the  coun 
tries  he  had  discovered  ;  of  tyranny  and  oppression  to 
wards  the'  colonists,  and  indignities  towards    Spanish 
gentlemen  of  rank. 

2.  These  representations,  being  supported  by  many- 
factious  idlers  who  had  returned  from  the  colony,  and 
enforced  by  people  of  rank  connected  with  the  cavaliers, 
had  a  baneful  effect  upon  the  popularity  of  Columbus, 
and  his  favour  with  the  sovereigns. 

3.  The  arrival  of  the  ships  commanded  by  Torres, 
cringing   accounts  of  the  voyage   along   the   southern. 
coasts  of  Cuba,  and  specimens  of  the  gold,  and  the  vege 
table  and  animal  productions  of  the  country,  weakened 
in  some  degree  these  unfavourable  impressions.     Still  it 
was  determined  to  send  out  a  commissioner  to  inquire 
into  the  alleged  distresses  of  the  colony,  and  the  conduct 
of  Columbus. 

4.  One  Juan  Aguado  was  appointed  for  the  purpose. 
He  had  already  been  to  Hispaniola,  and,  on  returning 

10 


110  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

had  been  strongly  recommended  to  royal  favour  by  Colum 
bus.  In  appointing  a  person,  therefore*,  for  whom  the 
admiral  appeared  fco  have  a  regard,  and  who  was  under 
obligations  to  him,  the  sovereigns  thought,  perhaps,  to 
soften  the  harshness  of  the  measure. 

5.  As  to  the  five  hundred  slaves  sent  home  in  the  ships 
of  Torres,  Isabella  ordered  a  consultation  of  the  clergy 
to   determine  whether,  having  tx-en  taken  in  warfare, 
their  sale  as  slaves  would  be  justifiable  in  the  sight  of 
God.     Much  difference   of  opin  on  arose   among   the 
divines  on  this  important  question  ,  whereupon  the  queen 
decided  it  according  to  the  dictates  of  her  conscience 
and  her  heart,  and  ordered  that  the  Indians  should  be 
taken  back  to  their  native  country. 

6.  Juan  de  Aguado  set  sail  from  Spain  towards  the 
end  of  August  with  four  caravels  freighted  with  supplies, 
and  Don  Diego  Cclurnbus  returned  in  this  squadron  to 
Hispaniola.     Aguado  was  ono  of  those  weak  men  whose 
heads  are  turned  by  the  least  elevation.     At  the  time  of 
his  arrival,  the  admiral  was  absent  in  the  interior  of  the 
island,  and  the  Adelantado  commanded  in  his  place. 

7.  Aguado  treated  the  latter  with  great  insolence  and 
contempt,  refusing  to  show  him  the  commission  under 
which  he  acted,  and  conducting  himself  as  if  the  govern 
ment  had  been  transferred  into  his  hands.     Proclaiming 
his  letter  of  credence  by  sound  of  trumpet,  he  arrested 
various  public  officers,  and  invited  every  one  to  come  for 
ward  boldly  and  state  his  wrongs  and  grievances. 

8.  He  even  intimated  that  the  admiral  was  keeping  at 
a  distance  through  consciousness  of  guilt,  and  threaten 
ed  to  set  off  at  the  head  of  a  body  of  horse  to  arrest  him. 
The  whole  community  was  in  confusion :  the  downfall 
of  the  famil  y  of  Columbus  was  predicted  :  some  thought 
the  admiral  would  lose  his  head. 

9.  The  news  of  the  arrival,  and  of  the  insolent  con 
duct  of  Aguado,  reached  Columbus  in  the  interior  of  the 
island,  and  he  immediately  hastened  to  Isahella  to  give 
him  a  meeting.     As  every  one  knew  the  lofty  spirit  of 
the  admiral,  and  his  jealous  maintenance  of  official  dig 
nity,  a  violent  explosion  was  anticipated  at  the  interview. 

10.  The  natural  heat  and  impetuosity  of  Columbus, 


OF   COLUMBUS.  Ill 

however,  had  been  subdued  by  a  life  of  trials,  and  he  had 
learnt  to  bring  his  passions  into  subjection  to  his  judg 
ment  ;  he  had  too  true  an  estimate  of  his  own  dignity  to 
enter  into  a  contest  with  a  shallow  boaster  like  Aguado  : 
above  all,  he  had  a  profound  reverence  for  the  authority 
of  his  sovereigns. 

11.  He  received  Aguado,  therefore,  with  the  most 
grave  and  punctilious  courtesy,  ordered  his  letter  of  cre 
dence  to  be  again  proclaimed  by  sound  of  trumpet,  and 
assured  him  of  his  readiness  to  acquiesce  in  whatever 
might  be  the  pleasure  of  his  sovereigns. 

1*2.  The  moderation  of  Columbus  was  regarded  by 
many,  and  by  Aguado  himself,  as  a  proof  of  his  loss  of 
moral  courage.  Every  dastard  spirit  who  had  any  lurk 
ing  ill  will,  now  hastened  to  give  it  utterance  ;  every  one 
who  ha.d  by  negligence  or  crime  incurred  the  wholesome 
penalties  of  the  laws,  was  loud  in  his  clamours  of  oppres 
sion  ;  and  all  the  ills  of  the  colony,  however  produced, 
were  ascribed  to  the  mal-administration  of  the  admiral. 

13.  Aguado  listened  to  every  accusation  with  ready 
credulity,  and  having  collected  information  sufficient,  as 
he  thought,  to  ensure  the  ruin  of  the  admiral  and  his  bro 
thers,  prepared  to  return  to  Spain.     Columbus  resolved 
to  do  the  same  ;  for  he  felt  that  it  was  time  to  appear  at 
court,  and  vindicate  his  conduct  from  the  misrepresenta 
tions  of  his  enemies. 

14.  When  the  ships  were  ready  to  depart,  the  island 
was  swept  by  one  of  those  awful  whirlwinds  which  occa 
sionally  rage  within  the  tropics,  and  which  were  called 
hurricanes  by  the  Indians,  a  name  which  they  still  retain. 
Three  of  the  ships  at  anchor  in  the  harbour  were  sunk, 
with  all  who  were  on  board  ;  others  were  dashed  against 
each  other,  and  driven  mere  wrecks  upon  the  shore. 

15.  The  Indians  were  overwhelmed  with  dismay,  for 
never  in  their  memory,  or  in  the  traditions  of  their  ances 
tors,  had  there  been  known  so  tremendous  a  storm.    They 
believed  that  the  Deity  had  sent  it  in  punishment  of  the 
cruelties  and  crimes  of  the  white  men,  and  declared  that 
this  people  moved  the  very  air,  the  water,  and  the  earth, 
to  disturb  their  tranquil  life,  and  to  desolate  their  is'and. 

16.  The  departure  of  Columbus,  and  of  Aguado,  was 


112  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

delayed  until  one  of  the  shattered  vessels  could  be  re 
paired,  and  another  constructed  out  of  the  fragments  of 
the  wrecks.     In  the  mean  time,  an  important  event  oc 
curred. 

17.  A  young  Arragonian,  named  Miguel  Diaz,  in  the 
service  of  the  Adelantado,  having  wounded  a  companion 
in  a  quarrel,  fled  from  the  settlement,  accompanied  by 
five  or  six  comrades.     Wandering  about  the  island,  they 
carne  to  an  Indian  village,  on  the  banks  of  the  Ozema, 
where  the  city  of  San  Domingo  is  at  present  situated. 

18.  The  village  was  governed  by  a  female  cacique, 
who  conceived  a  strong  affection  for  the  young  Arrago 
nian,  and  they  lived  for  some  time  very  happily  together. 
At  length  the  remembrance  of  his  country  and  his  friends 
began  to  haunt  the  mind  of  the  Spaniard  ;  he  longed  to 
return  to  the  settlement,  but  dreaded  the  austere  justice 
of  the  Adelantado. 

19.  His  Indian  bride  observing  him  frequently  lost  in 
gloomy  thought,  drew  from  him  the  cause  of  his  melan 
choly.     Fearful  that  he  would  abandon  her,  and  knowing 
the  influence  of  gold  over  the  white  men,  she  informed 
him  of  certain  rich  mines  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  urged 
him  to  persuade  his  countrymen  to  remove  to  the  fertile 
banks  of  the  Ozema,  promising  that  they  should  be  hospi 
tably  received  by  her  nation. 

20.  Diaz  hastened  with  this  intelligence  to  the  settle 
ment,  flattering  himself  that  it  would  make  his  peace 
with  his  commanders.    He  waG  not  mistaken.    iVo  tidings 
could  have  come  more  opportunely,  for  if  true,  they  would 
furnish  the  admiral  with  the  best  means  of  re-establishing 
himself  in  the  favour  of  his  sovereigns. 

21.  The  Adelantado  was  immediately  despatched  with 
Diaz  and  his  Indian  guides,  to  ascertain  the  truth.     He 
soon  returned  with  rich  specimens  of  gold,  which  he  had 
found  in  great  quantities  on  .the  banks  of  a  river  called 
the  Hayna ;  and  he  told  of  excavations  where  it  appear 
ed  as  if  mines  had  been  worked  in  ancient  tim^s. 

22.  Columbus  was  overjoyed  at  the  sight  of  the  speci 
mens,  and  surprised  to  hear  of  the  excavations,  as  the 
Indians  possessed  no  knowledge  of  mining,  and  merely 
picked  up  the  gold  from  the  surface  of  the  soil,  or  the 


OP   COLUMBUS. 


113 


beds  of  the  rivers.     The  circumstance  gave  rise  to  one 
of  his  usual  veins  of  visionary  speculation. 

23.  He  had  already  surmised  that  Hispaniola  might 
be  the  ancient  Ophir  ;  he  now  fancied  he  had  discovered 
the  identical  mines  from  whence  King  Solomon  had  pro 
cured  his  great  supplies  of  gold  for  the  building  of  the 
temple  of  Jerusalem.     He  gave  orders  that  a  fortress 
should  be  immediately  erected  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
mines,  and  that  they  should  be  diligently  worked  ;  and 
he  now  looked  forward  with  confidence  to  his  return  to 
Spain,  the  bearer  of  such  golden  tidings. 

24.  It  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  mention,  that  Mi 
guel  Diaz  remained  faithful  to  his  Indian  bride,  who  was 
baptized  by  the  name  of  Catalina.     They  were  regularly 
married,  and  had  two  children. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Return  of  Columbus  to  Spain.     Preparations  for  a  third 
Voyage.  [1496.] 

1.  THE  new  caravel  being  finished,  and  the  shattered 
one  repaired,  Columbus  embarked  in  one,  and  Aguado 
in  the  other.     Don  Bartholomew  remained  in  command 
of  the  island,  with  the  title  of  Adelantado.     The  vessels 
were  crowded  with  two  hundred  and  twenty  -five  passen 
gers,  the  sick,  the  idle,  the  profligate  and  factious  of  the 
colony.     Never  did  a  more  miserable  and  disappointed 
crew  return  from  a  land  of  promise. 

2.  There  were  thirty  Indians  also  on  board,  and  among 
them  the  once  redoubtable  Caonabo,  together  with  one 
of  his  brothers,  and  a  nephew.     The  admiral  had  pro 
mised  to  restore  them  to  their  country  and  their  power, 
after  having  presented  them  to  the  sovereigns  ;  trusting 
by  kind  treatment,  and  a  display  of  the  wonders  of  Spain, 
to  conquer  their  hostility,  and  convert  them  into  impor 
tant  instruments  for  the  quiet  subjugation  of  the  island. 

3.  Being  as  yet  but  little  experienced  in  the  naviga 
tion  of  these  seas,  Columbus,  instead  of  working  up  to 

10* 


114  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

the  northward,  so  as  to  fall  in  with  the  track  of  westerly 
winds,  took  an  easterly  course  on  leaving  the  island. 
His  voyage,  in  consequence,  became  a  toilsome  and  te 
dious  struggle  against  the  trade  winds  and  calms  which 
prevail  between  the  tropics.  Though  he  sailed  on  the 
10th  of  March,  yet  on  the  6th  of  April  he  was  stilHn  the 
vicinity  of  the  Caribbee  islands,  and  had  to  touch  at 
Gaudaloupe  to  procure  provisions. 

4.  Here  skirmishes  occurred  with  the  fierce  natives, 
both   male  and  female  ;  for   the  women  were  perfect 
amazons,  of  large  and  powerful  frame  and  great  agility. 
Several  of  the  latter  were  taken  prisoners.  Among  them 
was  the  wife  of  a  cacique,  a  woman,  of  a  proud  and  reso 
lute  spirit. 

5.  On  the  approach  of  the  Spaniards  she  fled  with  an 
agility  that  soon  distanced  all  pursuers,  excepting  a  na 
tive  of  the  Canary  islands,  noted  for  swiftness  of  foot. 
She  would  have  escaped  even  from  him,  but  perceiving 
that  he  was  alone,  and  far  from  his  companions,  she  sud 
denly  turned  upon  him,  seized  him  by  the  throat,  and 
would  have  strangled  him,  had  not  the  Spaniards  arrived 
and  taken  her,  entangled  like  a  hawk  with  her  prey. 

6.  When  Columbus  departed  from  the  island,  he  dis 
missed  all  the  prisoners   with  presents.      The  female 
cacique  alone  refused  to  go  on  shore.  She  had  conceived 
a  passion  for  Caonabo,  having  found  out  that  he  was  a 
Carib,  and  she  had  been  won  by  the  story,  gathered  from 
the  other  Indians,  of  his  great  valour  and  his  misfortunes. 
In  the  course  of  the  voyage,  however,  the  unfortunate 
Caonabo  expired. 

7.  The  fate  of  this  savage  chieftain  affords,  in  a  nar 
row  scale,  a  picture  of  the  fallacy  of  human  greatness. 
When  the  Spaniards  first  arrived  on  the  coast  of  Hayti, 
their  imaginations  were  inflamed  by  rumours,  representing 
him  as  a  magnificent  prince  among  the  mountains,  the 
lord  of  the  golden  house,  the  sovereign  of  the  mines  of 
Cibao  ;  but  a  short  time  had  elapsed,  and  he  was  a  naked 
and  moody  prisoner  on  the  deck  of  one  of  their  caravels, 
with  none  but  one  of  his  own  wild  native  heroines  to 
sympathize  in  his  misfortunes. 

8.  All  his  importance  vanished  with  his  freedom; 


OF   COLUMBUS.  115 

scarce  any  mention  is  made  of  him  during1  his  captivity ; 
and  with  innate  qualities  of  a  high  and  heroic  nature,  he 
perished  with  the  obscurity  of  one  of  the  vulgar.  He 
maintained,  however,  his  haughty  nature  to  the  last,  for 
his  o^ath  is  principally  ascribed  to  the  morbid  melancholy 
of  a  proud  and  broken  spirit. 

9.  Columbus  left  Guadaloupe  on  the  20th  of  April, 
still  working  his  way  against  the  whole  current  of  the 
trade  winds.     By  the  20th  of  May,  every  one  was  put  on 
an  allowance  of  six  ounces  of  bread,  and  a  pint  and  a  half 
of  water.     By  the  beginning  of  June  there  was  an  ab 
solute  famine  on  board,  and  some  proposed  that  they 
should  kill  and  eat  their  Indian  prisoners,  or  throw  them 
into  the  sea  as  so  many  useless  mouths.     Nothing  but 
the  absolute  authority  of  Columbus  prevented  this  last 
counsel  from  being  adopted. 

10.  On  the  llth  of  June  the  vessels  anchored  in  the 
bay  of  Cadiz.     The  populace  crowded  to  witness  the 
landing  of  the  gay  and  bold  adventurers,  who  had  sailed 
from   this  very   port  animated  by  the  -most   sanguine 
expectations. 

11.  Instead,  however,  of  a  joyous  crew,  bounding  on 
shore,  flushed  with  success,  and  rich  with  the  spoils  of 
the  golden  Indies,  a  feeble  train  of  wretched  men  crawled 
forth  ;  who  carried  in  their  yellow  countenances,  says  an 
old  writer,  a  mockery  of  that  gold  which  had  been  the 
object  of. their  search ;  and  who  had  nothing  to  relate  of 
the  new  world  but  tales  of  sickness,  poverty,  and  dis 
appointment. 

12.  The  appearance  of  Columbus  himself  was  a  kind 
of  comment  on  his  fortunes.     Either  considering  himself 
in  disgrace  with  the  sovereigns,  or  having  made  some 
penitential  vow,  he  was  clad  in  the  habit  of  a  Francis 
can  monk,  girded  with  a  cord,  and  he  had  suffered  his 
beard  to  grow  like  the  friars  of  that  order. 

13.  But  however  humble  he  might  be  in  his  own  per 
sonal  appearance,  he  endeavoured  to  keep  alive  the  pub 
lic  interest  in  his  discoveries.     On  his  way  to  Burgos  to 
to  meet  the  sovereigns,  he  made  a  studious  display  of  the 
coronets,  collars,  bracelets,  and  other  ornaments  of  gold, 
which  he  had  brought  from  the  new  world.    He  carried 


116  LIFE   AND   VOYAGES 

with  him,  also,  several  Indians,  decorated  with  glittering- 
ornaments,  and  among  them  the  brother  of  Caonabo,  on 
whom  he  put  a  massive  collar  and  chain  of  gold,  as 
cacique  of  the  golden  country  of  Cibao. 

14.  The  reception  of  Columbus  by  the  sovereigns  was 
different  from  what  he  had  anticipated,  for  he  was  treated 
with  distinguished  favour ;  nor  was  any  mention  made 
either  of  the  complaints  of  Margarite  and  Boyle,  or  the 
judicial  inquiries  conducted  by  Aguado.    The  sovereigns 
were  too  conscious  of  his  great  deserts,  and  of  the  ex 
traordinary  difficulties  of  his  situation,  not  to  tolerate 
what  they  may  have  considered  errors  on  his  part. 

15.  Encouraged  bv  the  interest  with  which  they  listen 
ed  to  his  account  of  his  recent  voyages,  Columbus  now 
proposed  a  further  enterprise,  by  which  he  promised  to 
make  yet  more  extensive  discoveries.     All  he  asked  was 
eight  ships,  two  to  be  despatched  to  Hispaniola  with 
supplies,  the  remaining  six  to  be  put  under  his  command 
for  the  voyage. 

16.  The  sovereigns  readily  promised  to  comply  with 
his  request ;  but  the  resources  of  Spain  at  this  moment 
were  tasked  to  the  utmost  by  widely  extended  operations, 
both  of  war  and  amity,  which  drained  the  treasury  and 
engrossed  the  thoughts  of  the  sovereigns. 

17.  It  was  not  until  the  spring  of  1497  that  Isabella 
could  find  leisure  to  enter  fully  into  the  concerns  of  the 

'  new  world.  She  then  took  them  up  with  a  spirit  that 
showed  she  was  determined  to  place  them  upon  a  sub 
stantial  foundation. 

18.  As  the  expenses  of  the  expeditions  had  hitherto 
exceeded  the  returns,  Columbus  was  relieved  of  his  eighth 
part  of  the  cost  of  the  past  enterprises,  and  allowed  an 
eighth  of  the  gross  proceeds  for  the  next  three  years,  and 
a  tenth  of  the  net  profits. 

19.  He  was*  allowed  also  to  establish  a  mayorazgo  in 
his  family,  that  is  to  say,  a  hereditary  estate,  devolving 
to  the  eldest  son.     In  availing  himself  of  this  privilege, 
he  enjoined  it  upon  his  hereditary  successors  never  to 
use   any   other  title  in   signature  than   simply  "The 
Admiral." 

20.  The  titles  and  prerogatives  of  Adelantado  were 


OF    COLUMBUS.  117 

likewise  conferred  upon  Don  Bartholemew,  though  the 
king  had  at  first  been  displeased  with  Columbus  for  in 
vesting  his  brother  with  dignities  which  were  only  in  the 
gift  of  the  sovereign. 

21.  The  precise  number  of  persons  was  fixed  who 
were  to  be  sent  to  Hispaniola,  among  whom  were  seve 
ral  females  ;  regulations  were  made  for  their  payment 
and  support,  and  for  the  distribution  of  lands  among- 
them.     The  greatest  care  was  enjoined,  likewise,  by  Isa 
bella,  in  the  religious  instruction  of  the  natives,  and  the 
utmost  lenity  in  collecting  the  tributes  impodod  upon 
them.     With  respect  to  the  government  of  tLe  colony, 
also,  it  was  generally  recommended  that  there  should  be 
a  disposition  to  indulgent  and  easy  rule. 

22.  When   every  intention  was  thus  shown  on  the 
part  of  the  crown  to  despatch  the  expedition,  unexpected 
difficulties  arose  on  the  part  of  the  public.     The  charm 
was  dispelled,  which  had  once  made  every  adventurer 
crowd  into  the  service  of  Columbus";  the  new  world,  in 
stead  of  a  region  of  wealth  and  enjoyment,  was  now  con 
sidered  a  land  of  poverty  and  disaster. 

23.  To  supply  the  want  of  voluntary  recruits,  there 
fore,  Columbus  proposed  to  transport  to  Hispaniola,  for  a 
limited  term  of  years,  all  criminals  condemned  to  banish 
ment  or  the  galleys,  excepting  such  as  had  committed 
crimes  of  an  atrocious  nature  ; — a  pernicious  measure, 
which  proved  a  fruitful  source  of  misery  and  disaster  to 
the  colony. 

24.  Notwithstanding  all  these  expedients,  it  was  not 
until  the  beginning  of  1498  that  the  two  ships  were  de 
spatched  to  Hispaniola,  under  the   command  of  Pedro 
Fernandez  Coronal.     A  still  further  delay  occurred  in 
fitting  out  the  six  ships  that  were  to  bear  Columbus  on 
his  voyage  of  discovery. 

25.  His  cold-blooded  enemy  Fonseca,  who  was  now 
bishop  of  Badajoz,  having  the  superintendence  of  Indian 
affairs,  was  enabled  to  impede  and  retard  all  his  plans. 
The  various  officers  and  agents  employed  in  the  concerns 
of  the  armament,  were  most  of  them  dependents  and 
minions  of  the   bishop,  and  sought  to  gratify  him,  by 
throwing  all  kinds  of  difficulties  in  the  way  of  Columbus, 


118  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

26.  The  insolence  of  these  worthless  men  harassed 
him  to  the  last  moment  of  his  sojourn  in  Spain,  and  fol 
lowed  him  to  the  water's  edge.     The  most  noisy  and 
presuming  was  one  Ximeno  de  Breviesca,  treasurer  of 
Fonseca,  a  converted  Jew  or  Moor,  and  a  man  of  impu 
dent  front  and  unbridled  tongue. 

27.  As  Columbus  was  on  the  point  of  embarking,  he  was 
assailed  by  the  insolence  of  this  Ximeno.     Forgetting, 
in  the  hurry  and  indignation  of  the  moment,  his  usual 
self-command,  he  struck  the  despicable  minion  to  the 
earth,  and  spurned  him  with  his  foot,  venting  in  this  un 
guarded  paroxysm  the  accumulated  griefs  and  vexations 
which  had  long  rankled  in  his  heart. 

28.  This  transport  of  passion,  so  unusual  in  his  well- 
go  vurned  temper,  was  artfully  adduced  by  Fonseca,  and 
others  of  his  enemies,  as  a  flagrant  instance  of  vindictive 
temper,  and  a  corroboration  of  the  charges  of  cruelty  and 
oppression  sent  home  from  the  colony. 

29.  Columbus  himself  foresaw  the  invidious  use  that 
would  be  made  of  it.     It  would  be  difficult  to  make,  with 
equal  brevity,  a  more  direct  and  affecting  appeal  than 
that  contained  in  one  of  his  letters,  wherein  he  alludes  to 
this  affair.     He  entreats  the  sovereigns  not  to  let  it  be 
wrested  to  his  injury  in  their  opinion  ;  but  to  remember, 
when  any  thing  should  be  said  to  his  disparagement,  that 
he  was  "  absent,  envied,  and  a  stranger." 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Discovery  of  Trinidad  and  the  Coast  of  Pdria.     Arrival 
at  San  Domingo.  [1498.] 

1.  ON  the  30th  of  May,  Columbus  set  sail  from  the 
port  of  San  Lucar  de  Barrameda,  with  a  squadron  of  six 
vessels,  on  his  third  voyage  of  discovery.  From  various 
considerations,  he  was  induced  to  take  a  different  route 
from  that  pursued  in  his  former  expeditions.  He  had 
been  assured  by  persons  who  had  traded  to  the  east, 
that  the  rarest  objects  of  commerce,  such  as  gold,  pre- 


OF    COLUMBUS.  119 

cious  stones,  drugs,  and  spices,  were  chiefly  to  be  found 
in  the  regions  about,  the  equator,  where  the  inhabitants 
were  black,  or  darkly  coloured ;  and  that,  until  he  arrived 
among  people  of  such  complexions,  it  was  not  probable 
he  would  find  those  articles  in  great  abundance. 

2.  Columbus  recollected  that  the  natives  of  Hispaniola 
had  spoken  of  black  men  who  had  once  come  to  their 
island  from  the  south,  the  heads  of  whose  javelins  were 
of  guanin,  or  adulterated  gold.     The  natives  of  the  Ca- 
ribbee  islands,  also,  had  informed  him  that  a  great  tract 
of  the  main  land  lay  to  the  south  ;  and  in  his  preceding 
voyage  he  had  remarked  that  Cuba,  which  he  supposed  to 
be  the  continent  of  Asia,  swept  off  in  that  direction. 

3.  He  proposed,  therefore,  to  take  his  departure  from 
the  Cape  de  Verde  islands,  sailing  to  the  south-west  until 
he  should  come  under  the  equinoctial  line,  then  to  steer 
directly  westward,  with  the  favour  of  the  trade  winds. 

4.  Having  touched  at  the  islands  of  Porto  Santo  and 
Madeira,  to  take  in  wood  and  water,  he  continued  his 
course  to  the  Canary  islands,  from  whence  he  despatched 
three  of  his  ships  direct  for  Hispaniola,  with  supplies  for 
the  colony.     With  the  remaining  three  he  prosecuted 
his  voyage  towards  the  Cape  de  Verde  islands.     The 
ship  in  which  he  sailed  was  decked,  the  other  two  were 
merchant  caravels. 

5.  On  the  5th  of  July,  he  took  his  departure  from  the 
Cape  de  Verde  islands,  and  steered  to  the  south-west 
until  he  arrived,  according  to  his  observations,  in  the  fifth 
degree  of  north  latitude.     Here  the  wind  suddenly  fell, 
and  a  dead  sultry  calm  succeeded.     The  air  was  like  a 
furnace,  the  tar  melted  from  the  sides  of  the  ships,  the 
seams  yawned,  the  salt  meat  became  putrid,  some  of  the 
wine  and  water  casks  burst,  and  the  mariners  lost  aD  • 
strength  and  spirits. 

6.  For  a  part  of  the  time,  the  heavens  became  over 
cast,  and  there  were  drizzling  showers,  but  the  atmos 
phere  was  close  and  stifling.     A  continuation  of  this 
Weather,  together  with  the  remonstrances  of  his  crew, 
and  his  extreme  suffering  from  the  gout,  ultimately  in 
duced  Columbus  to  alter  his  route,  and  stand  to  the 
north-west,  in  hopes  of  falling  in  with  the  Caribbee 


120  LIFE    AND    VOYAGE 

islands,  where  he  might  repair  his  ships,  and  obtain  wa 
ter  and  provisions. 

7.  After  sailing-  some  distance  in  this  direction,  the 
ships  all  at  once  emerged  into  a  genial  atmosphere ;  a 
pleasant  cooling  breeze  played  over  the  sea,  and  gently 
filled  their  sails  ;  the  sky  became  serene  and  clear,  and 
the  sun  shone  forth  with  all  its  splendour,  but  no  longer 
with  a  burning  heat. 

8.  On  the  31st  of  July,  when  there  was  not  above  a 
cask  of  water  remaining  in  each  ship,  a  mariner,  named 
Alonzo  Perez,  descried,  from  the  mast-head,  three  moun 
tains  rising  above  the  horizon  :  as  the  ships  drew  nearer, 
these  mountains  proved  to  be  united  at  the  base.     Co 
lumbus,  therefore,  from  a  religious  association  of  ideas, 
gave  this  island  the  name  of  La  Trinidad,  (or  the  Trini 
ty,)  which  it  continues  to  bear  at  the  present  day. 

9.  Shaping  his  course  for  this  island,  he  coasted  along 
the  southern  shore,  and  beheld  land  to  the  south,  stretch 
ing  to  the  distance  of  more  than  twenty  leagues.     It  was 
that  low  tract  of  coast  intersected  by  the   numerous 
branches  of  the  Orinoco ;  but  the  admiral,  supposing  it 
to  be  an  island,  gave  it  the  name  of  La  Isla  Santa ;  little 
imagining  that  he  now,  for  the  first  time,  beheld  the  main 
land  which  had  been  the  object  of  his  earnest  search. 

10.  For  several  days  he  coasted  the  island  of  Trinidad, 
and  explored  the  great  gulf  of  Paria,  which  lies  behind 
it,  fancying  himself  among  islands,  and  that  he  must  find 
a  passage  to  the  open  ocean,  by  keeping  to  the  bottom 
of  the  gulf.    During  this  time,  he  was  nearly  swept  from 
his  anchors  and  thrown  on  shore  by  a  sudden  rush  and 
swell  of  the  sea,  near  Point  Arenal,  caused,  as  is  sup 
posed,  by  the  swelling  of  one  of  the  rivers  which  flow 
into  the  gulf.     He  landed  on  the  inside  of  the  long  pro 
montory  of  Paria,  which  he  mistook  for  an  island,  and 
had  various  interviews  with  the  natives,  from  whom  he 
procured  great  quantities  of  pearls,  many  of  a  fine  size 
and  quality. 

11.  There  were  several  phenomena  that  surprised  and 
perplexed  Columbus  in  the  course  of  his  voyage  along 
this  coast,  and  which  gave  rise  to  speculations,  some  in 
genious  and  others  fanciful.     He  was  astonished  at  the 


OF    COLUMBUS.  121 

vast  body  of  fresh  water  continually  flowing-  into  the  gulf 
of  Paria,  so  as  apparently  to  sweeten  the  whole  surround 
ing1  sea,  and  at  the  constant  current  which  set  through 
it,  which  he  supposed  to  be  produced  by  some  great  river. 
-12.  He  remarked,  with  wondering,  also  the  difference 
between  the  climate,  vegetation,  and  people  of  these 
coasts,  and  those  of  the  same  parallel  in  Africa.  There 
the  heat  was  insupportable,  and  the  land  parched  and 
sterile ;  the  inhabitants  were  black,  with  crisped  wool, 
ill  shapen,  and  of  dull  and  brutal  natures. 

13.  Here,  on  the  contrary,  although  the  sun  was  in 
Leo,  he  found  the  noon-tide  heat  moderate,  the  mornings 
and  evenings  fresh  and  cool,  the  country  green  and  fruit- 
ful,  covered  with  beautiful  forests,  and  watered  by  innu 
merable  streams  and  fountains ;  the  people  fairer  than 
even  those  in  the  lands  he  had  discovered  further  north, 
with  long  hair,  well  proportioned  and  graceful  forms, 
lively  minds,  and  courageous  spirits. 

14.  In  respect  to  the  vast  body  of  fresh  water,  he 
made  one  of  his  simple  and  great  conclusions.     Such  a 
mighty  stream  could  not  be  produced  by  an  island ;  it 
must  be  the  outpouring  of  a  continent.     He  now  suppo 
sed  that  the  various  tacts  of  land  which  he  had  beheld 
about  the  gulf  were  connected  together,  and  continued 
to  an  immense  distance  to  the  south,  far  beyond  the? 
equator,  into  that  hemisphere  hitherto  unknown  to  civ 
ilized  man. 

15.  As  to  the  mild  temperature  of  the  climate,  tho 
fresh  verdure  of  the  country,  and  the  comparative  fair 
ness  of  the  inhabitants,  in  a  parallel  so  near  to  the  equa 
tor,  he  attributed  it  to  the  superior  elevation  of  this  part 
of  the  globe  ;  for,  from  a  variety  of  circumstances,  inge 
niously  but  erroneously  reasoned  upon,  he  inferred,  tiiat 
philosophers  had  been  mistaken  in  the  form  of  the  earth, 
which,  instead  of  being  a  perfect  sphere,  he  now  con 
cluded  to  be  shaped  like  a  pear,  one  part  more  elevated 
than  the  rest,  rising  into  the  purer  regions  of  the  air,  above 
the  heats,  and  frosts,  and  storms  of  the  lower  parts  of 
the  earth. 

16.  He  imagined  this  apex  to  be  situated  about  the 
equinoctial  line,  in  the  interior  of  this  vast  continent, 

11 


122  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

which  he  considered  the  extremity  of  the  east ;  that  on 
this  summit,  as  it  were,  of  the  earth,  was  situated  the 
terrestrial  paradise ;  and  that  the  vast  stream  of  fresh 
water,  which  poured  into  the  gulf  of  Paria,  issued  from 
the  fountain  of  the  tree  of  life,  in  the  midst  of  the  garden 
of  Eden. 

17.  Extravagant  as  this  speculation  may  seem  at  the 
present  day,  it  was  grounded  on  the  writings  of  the  most 
sage  and  learned  men  of  those  times,  among  whom  the 
situation  of  the  terrestrial  paradise  had  long  been  a  sub 
ject  of  discussion  and  controversy,  and  by  several  of 
whom  it  was  supposed  to  be  on  a  vast  mountain,  in  the 
remote  parts  of  the  east. 

18.  Columbus  would  gladly  have  followed  up  his  dis 
covery,  not  doubting  but  that  the  country  would  increase 
in  the  valae  of  its  productions  as  he  approached  the  equa 
tor.     The  sea-stores  of  his  ships,  however,  were  almost 
exhausted,  and  the  various  supplies  with  which  they  were 
freighted  for  the  colony  were  in  danger  of  spoiling. 

19.  He  was  suffering  also  extremely  in  his  health. 
Besides  the  gout,  which  had  rendered  him  a  cripple  for 
the  greater  part  of  the  voyage,  he  was  afflicted  by  a  com 
plaint  in  his  eyes,  caused  by  fatigue  and  overwatching, 
which  almost  deprived  him  of  sight.     He  determined, 
therefore,  "to  hasten  to  Hispamola,  intending  to  repose 
there  from  his  fatigues,  and  recruit  his  health,  while  he 
should  send  his  brother,  the  Adelantado,  to  complete  this 
important  discovery. 

20.  On  the  14th  of  August,  therefore,  he  left  the  gulf, 
by  a  narrow  strait  between  the  promontory  of  Paria 
and  the  island  of  Trinidad.     This  strait  is  beset  with 
small  islands,  where  the  current  is  so  compressed  as  to 
cause  a  turbulent  sea,  with  great  foaming  and  roaring,  as 
if  rushing  over  rocks  and  shoals.     The  admiral  conceiv 
ed  himself  in  imminent  danger  of  shipwreck,  when  pass 
ing  through  this  strait,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  La  Boca 
del  Drago,  or  the  Mouth  of  the  Dragon. 

21.  After  reconnoitering  the  coast  to  the  westward, 
and  convincing  himself  of  its  being  a  continent,  he  bore 
away  for  Hispaniola,  for  the  river  Ozema,  where  he  had 
instructed  his  brother  to  form  a  settlement  in  the  neigh- 


OF   COLUMBUS.  123 

bourhood  of  the  mines.  He  arrived,  haggard,  emaciated, 
and  almost  blind,  and  was  received  with  open  arms  by 
the  Adelantado. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Administration  of  the  Adelantado. 

1.  COLUMBUS  had  anticipated  a  temporary  repose  from 
his  toils  on  arriving  at  Hispaniola  ;  but  a  new  scene  of 
trouble  and  anxiety  opened  upon  him,  which  was  destined 
to  affect  all  his  future  fortunes.     To  explain  this,  it  is 
necessary  to  state  the  occurrences  of  the  island  during  his 
long  detention  in  Spain. 

2.  When  he  sailed  for  Europe  in  March,  1496,  his  bro 
ther,  Don  Bartholomew,  immediately  proceeded  to  ex 
ecute  his  instructions  with  respect  to  the  gold  mines  of 
Hayna.     He  built  a  fortress  in  the  neighbourhood,  which 
he  named  St.  Cristoval,  and  another  not  far  off',  on  the 
eastern  bank  of  the  Ozema.  This  last  fortress  was  called 
San  Domingo,  and  was  the  origin  of  the  city  which  still 
bears  that  name. 

3.  Having  garrisoned  these  fortresses  and  made  ar 
rangements  for  working  the  mines,  the  indefatigable 
Adelantado  set  out  to  visit  the  dominions  of  Behechio, 
which  had  not  as  yet  been  reduced  to  obedience.     This 
cacique,  as  has  been  mentioned,  reigned  over  Xaragua,  a 
province  comprising  almost  the  whole  of  the  west  end  of 
the  island,  including  Cape  Tiburon.     It  was  one  of  the 
most  populous  and  fertile  districts. 

4.  The  inhabitants  were  finely  formed,  and  had  a  noble 
air,  a  more  agreeable  elocution,  and  more  soft  and  grace 
ful  manners,  than  the  natives  of  the  other  part  of  the 
island.     The  Indians  of  Hayti  generally  pkced   their 
elysium,  or  paradise  of  happy  spirits,  in  the  delightful 
valleys  that  bordered  the  great  lake  of  Xaragua. 

5.  With  Behechio  resided  his  sister,  the  widow  of  the 
late  formidable  Caonabo,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  females 
in  the  island,  of  great  natural  grace  and  dignity,  and  su- 


124  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

perior  intelligence.  Her  name  was  Anacaona,  which  in 
the  Indian  language  signified  Golden  Flower.  She  had 
taken  refuge  with  her  brother,  after  the  capture  and  ruin 
of  her  husband,  but  appears  never  to  have  entertained 
any  vindictive  feelings  against  the  Spaniards.  On  the 
contrary,  she  counselled  her  brother,  over  whom  she  had 
great  influence,  to  take  warning  by  the  fate  of  her  hus 
band,  and  to  conciliate  their  friendship. 

6.  Don  Bartholomew  entered  the  province  of  Xaragua 
at  the  head  of  an  armed  band,  putting  his  cavalry  in  the 
advance,  and  marching  with  banners  displayed,  and  the 
sound  of  drum  and  trumpet.     Behechio  met  him  with  a 
numerous  force,  but  being  assured  that  he  came  merely 
on  a  friendly  visit,  he  dismissed  his  army,  and  conducted 
the  Adelantado  to  his  residence  in  a  large  town,  near  the 
deep  bay  called  at  present  the  Bight  of  Leagon. 

7.  Thirty  young  females,  of  the  cacique's  household, 
beautifully  formed,  came  forth  to  meet  them,  waving  palm 
branches,  and  dancing  and  singing  their  areytos  or  tra 
ditionary  ballads.     When  they  came  before  Don  Bar 
tholomew,  they  knelt  and  laid  their  palm  branches  at 
his  feet. 

8.  After  these  came  the  beautiful  Anacaona,  reclining 
on  a  litter,  borne  by  six  Indians.     She  was  lightly  clad 
in  a  robe  of  various  coloured  cotton,  with  a  garland  of  red 
and  white  flowers  round  her  head,  and  wreaths  of  the 
same  round  her  neck  and  arms.     She  received  the  Ade 
lantado  with  that  natural  grace  and  courtesy  for  which 
she  was  celebrated. 

9.  For  several  days  Don  Bartholomew  was  entertained 
by  the  cacique  and  his  sister  with  banquets,  national 
games  and  dances,  and  other  festivities ;  then,  having 
arranged  for  a  periodical  tribute  to  be  paid  in  cotton, 
hemp,  and  cassava  bread,  he  took  a  friendly  leave,  and 
set  out  with  his  little  army  for  Isabella. 

10.  He  found  the  settlement  in  a  sickly  state,  and  suf 
fering   from  a   scarcity  of  provisions  ;  he  distributed, 
therefore,  all  that  were  too  feeble  to  labour  or  bear  arms 
into  the  interior,  where  they  might  have  better  air  and 
more  abundant  food  ;  and  at  the  same  time  he  established 
a  chain  of  fortresses  between  Isabella  and  San  Domingo. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  125 

11.  Insurrections  broke  out  among  the  natives  of  the 
vega,  caused  by  their  impatience  of  tribute,  by  the  out 
rages  of  some  of  the  Spaniards,  and  by  a  severe  punish 
ment  inflicted  on  certain  Indians  for  the  alleged  viola 
tion  of  a  chapel.     Guarionex,  a  man  naturally  moderate 
and  pacific,  was  persuaded  by  his  brother  caciques  to 
take  up  arms,  and  a   combination  was  formed  among 
them  to  rise  suddenly  upon  the   Spaniards,  massacre 
them,  and  destroy  Fort  Conception,  which  was  situated 
in  the  vega. 

12.  By  some  means  the  garrison  received  intimation 
of  the  conspiracy.     They  immediately  wrote  a  letter  to 
the  Adelantado  imploring  prompt  assistance.     How  to 
convey  the  letter  in  safety  was  an  anxious  question,  for 
the  natives  had  discovered  that  these  letters  had  a  won 
derful  power  of  communicating  intelligence,  and  fancied 
that  they  could  talk. 

13.  An  Indian  undertook  to  be  the  bearer  of  it.     He 
enclosed  it  in  a  staff,  and  set  out  on  his  journey.     Being 
intercepted,  he  pretended  to  be  dumb  and  lame,  leaning  on 
his  staff  for  support.  He  was  suffered  to  depart,  and  limp 
ed  forward  until  out  of  sight,  when  he  resumed  his  speed, 
and  bore  the  letter  safely  to  San  Domingo. 

14.  The  Adelantado,  with  his  accustomed  promptness, 
set  out  with  a  body  of  troops  for  the  fortress.     By  a 
rapid  and  well  concerted  stratagem  he  surprised  the 
leaders  in  the  night,  in  a  village  in  which  they  were 
sleeping,  and  carried  them  all  off  captive,  seizing  upon 
Guarionex   with   his   own   hand.      He   punished    two 
caciques,   the  principal   conspirators,  with  death,   and 
pardoned  all  the  rest.     Finding,  moreover,  that  Guario 
nex  had  been  chiefly  incited  to  hostility  by  an  outrage 
committed  by  a  Spaniard  on  his  favourite  wife,  he  inflict 
ed  punishment  on  the  offender. 

15.  The  heart  of  Guarionex  was  subdued  by  the  unex 
pected  clemency  of  the   Adelantado,  and  he  made  a 
speech  to  his  subjects  in  praise  of  the  Spaniards.     They 
listened  to  him  with  attention,  and  when  he  had  con 
cluded,  bore  him  off  on  their  shoulders  with  songs  and 
shouts  of  joy,  and  for  some  time  the  tranquillity  of  the 
vega  was  restored. 

11* 


126  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

16.  About  this  time,  receiving  information  from  Be- 
hechio,  cacique  of  Xaragua,  that  his  tribute  in  cotton  and 
provisions  was  ready  for  delivery,  the  Adelantado  march 
ed  there,  at  the  head  of  his  forces,  to  receive  it.     So 
large  a  quantity  of  cotton  and  cassava  bread  was  collect 
ed  together,  that  Don  Bartholomew  had  to  send  to  the 
settlement  of  Isabella  for  a  caravel  to  be  freighted  with  it. 

17.  In  the  mean  time,  the  .utmost  kindness  was  lavish 
ed  upon  their  guests  by  these  gentle  and  generous  peo 
ple.     The  troubles  which  distracted  the  other  parts  of 
devoted  Hayti  had  not  yet  reached  this  pleasant  region ; 
and  when  the  Spaniards  regarded  the  fertility  and  sweet 
ness  of  the  country,  bordering  on  a  tranquil   sea,  the 
kindness  of  the  inhabitants,  and  the  beauty  of  the  women, 
they  pronounced  it  a  perfect  paradise. 

18.  When  the  caravel  arrived,  it  was  regarded  by  An- 
acaona  and  her  brother  with  awe  arid  wonder.    Behechio 
visited  it  with  his  canoes  ;  but  his  sister,  with  her  female 
attendants,  were  conveyed  on  board  in  the  boat  of  the 
Adelantado.     As  they  approached,  the  caravel  fired  a 
salute.     At  the  sound  of  the  cannon,  and  the  sight  of 
volumes  of  smoke,  bursting  from  the  sides  of  the  ship 
and  rolling  along  the  sea,  Anacaona,  overcome  with  dis 
may,  fell  into  the  arms  of  the  Adelantado,  and  her  at 
tendants  would  have  leaped  overboard,  but  were  reassured 
by  the  cheerful  words  of  Don  Bartholomew. 

19.  As  they  drew  nearer  the  vessel,  several  instruments 
of  martial  music  struck  up,  with  which  they  were  greatly 
delighted.     Their  admiration  increased  on  entering  on 
board  ;  but  when  the  anchor  was  weighed,  the  sails  filled 
by  a  gentle  breeze,  and  they  beheld  this  vast  mass  veer 
ing  from  side  to  side, .  apparently  by  its  own  will,  and 
playing  like  a  huge  monster  on  the  deep,  the  brother  and 
sister  remained  gazing  at  each  other  in  mute  astonish 
ment.     Nothing  seems  ever  to  have  filled  the  mind  of  the 
savage  with  more  wonder  than  that  beautiful  triumph  of 
human  ingenuity — a  ship  under  sail. 

20.  While  the  Adelantado  was  thus  absent  quelling 
insurrections,  and  making  skilful  arrangements  for  the 
prosperity  of  the  colony,  new  mischiefs  were  fermenting 
:n  the  factious  settlement  of  Isabella.    The  prime  mover 


OF   COLUMBUS.  127 

was  Francisco  Roldan,  a  man  who  had  been  raised  by 
Columbus  from  poverty  and  obscurity,  and  appointed 
alcalde  mayor,  or  chief  judge  of  the  island. 

21.  He  was  an  uneducated  man,  but  of  strong  natural 
talents,  great  assiduity,  and  intrepid  impudence.     He 
had  seen  his  benefactor  return  to  Spain,  apparently  un 
der  a  cloud  of  disgrace,  and,  considering  him  a  fallen 
man,  began  to  devise  how  he  might  profit  by  his  down 
fall.     He  was  intrusted  with  an  office  inferior  only  to 
that  of  the  Adelantado ;  the  brothers  of  Columbus  were 
highly  unpopular ;  he  imagined  it  possible  to  ruin  them, 
both  with  the  colonists  and  with  the  government  at  home, 
and  by  dexterous  management  to  work  his  way  into  a 
command  of  the  colony. 

22.  For  this  purpose  he  mingled  among  the  common 
people,  threw  out  suggestions  that  the  admiral  wras  in 
disgrace,  and  would  never  return ;  railed  at  the  Ade 
lantado  and  Don  Diego  as  foreigners,  who  took  no  in 
terest  in  their  welfare,  but  used  them  merely  as  slaves 
to  build  houses  and  fortresses  for  them,  or  to  swell  their 
state,  and  secure  their  power,  as  they  marched  about 
the  island,  enriching  themselves  with  the  spoils  of  the 
caciques. 

23.  By  these  seditious  insinuations,  he  exasperated 
their  feelings  to  such  a  degree,  that  they  at  one  time 
formed  a  conspiracy  to  assassinate  the  Adelantado,  but 
it  was  happily  disconcerted  by  accident. 

24.  When  the  caravel  returned  from  Xaragua,  laden 
with  provisions,  it  was  dismantled  by  order  of  Don  Diego, 
and  drawn  up  on  the  beach.     Roldan  immediately  seized 
upon  this  circumstance  to  awaken  new  suspicions.     He 
said  the  true  reason  for  dismantling  the  caravel  was  to 
prevent  any  one  from  returning  in  it  to  Spain,  to  repre 
sent  the  oppressions  under  which  they  suffered.     He  ad 
vised  them  to  launch  and  take  possession  of  the  vessel, 
as  the  only  means  of  regaining  their  independence. 

25.  Don  Diego,  who  was  of  a  pacific  nature,  and  defi 
cient  in  energy,  endeavoured  to  divert  Roldan  from  his 
schemes  by  sending  him  with  a  small  force  to  overawe 
the  Indians  of  the  vega ;  but  it  was  only  putting  weapons 
in  the  hands  of  rebellion. 


128  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

26.  Roldan  found  himself  at  the  head  of  seventy  well 
armed  and  resolute  men,  disposed  to  go  all  lengths  wit'i 
him.     He  made  friends  and  partisans  also  among  the 
discontented  caciques,  and  then,  throwing  off  the  mask, 
openly  set  the  Adelantado  and  Don  Diego  at  defiance. 

27.  They  had  no  authority,  he  said,  from  the  crown, 
but  had  been  appointed  by  their  brother,  the  admiral,  who 
was  himself  in  disgrace.     For  his  own  part,  he  always 
pretended  to  act  in  his  official  capacity,  and  from  loyal 
motives.     Having  endeavoured  repeatedly  to  launch  the 
caravel,  but  in  vain,  he  broke  open  the  royal  stores  and 
supplied  his  followers  with  arms,  .clothing,  and  provi 
sions  ;  every  outrageous  act  of  the  kind  being  accompa 
nied  with  shouts  of  "  Long  live  the  King." 

28.  He  now  marched  off  to  the  vega,  and  attempted 
to  surprise  and  get  possession  of  Fort  Conception.     He 
was  happily  foiled  by  its  commander,  Miguel  Ballester, 
a  stanch  old  soldier,  both  resolute  and  wary,  who  kept 
Roldan  at  bay,  and  sent  tidings  of  his  danger  to  Don 
Bartholomew. 

29.  The  Adelantado  threw  himself  with  what  forces 
he  could  collect,  into  the  fortress,  where  he  was  held  in 
a  state  of  siege  by  Roldan,  who  had  gained  popularity 
among  the  Indians  and  the  dissolute  Spaniards,  by  re 
presenting  himself  as  the  redresser  of  wrongs,  and  cham 
pion  of  the  injured. 

30.  The  affairs  of  the  island  were  now  in  a  lamenta 
ble  situation.     The  Indians  ceased  to  send  in  their  tri 
butes,  and  threw  off  allegiance  to  the  government.    Rol- 
dan's  band  daily  gained  strength,  and  ranged  insolently 
about  the  country ;  while  the  Spaniards,  who  remained 
loyal,  fearing  conspiracies  among  the  natives,  kept  under 
shelter  of  the  forts.     Munitions  of  all  kinds  were  rapidly 
wasting,  and  the  spirits  of  the  well-affected  were  sinking 
into  despondency.     The  Adelantado  himself  remained 
shut  up  in  Fort  Conception,  doubtful  of  the  fidelity  of  his 
own  garrison,  and  secretly  informed  of  plots  to  capture 
or  destroy  him,  should  he  venture  abroad. 

31.  At  this  critical  juncture,  the  arrival  of  two  ships, 
under  command  of  Pedro  Hernandez  Coronal,  at  the  port 
of  San  Domingo,  with  troops  and  provisions,  strengthen. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  129 

ed  the  hands  of  Don  Bartholomew.  The  royal  confir 
mation  of  his  title  and  authority  of  Adelantado  at  once 
put  an  end  to  all  question  of  the  legitimacy  of  his  power, 
and  secured  the  fidelity  of  his  soldiers  ;  and  the  tidings 
that  the  admiral  was  in  high  favour  at  court,  and  on  the 
point  of  coming  out  with  a  powerful  squadron,  struck 
consternation  into  the  rebels. 

32.  The  Adelantado  immediately  hastened  to  San  Do 
mingo,  nor  was  there  any  attempt  made  to  molest  him 
on  his  march.    When  he  found  himself  once  more  secure, 
his  magnanimity  prevailed  over  his  indignation,  and  he 
sent  Pedro  Hernandez  Coronal,  to  offer  Roldan  and  his 
band  amnesty  for  all  offences,  on  condition  of  instant 
obedience. 

33.  When  Coronal  approached  the  encampment  of 
the  rebels,  he  was  opposed  in  a  narrow  pass  by  a  body  of 
archers  with  their  crossbows  levelled.     "  Halt  there,  trai 
tor!"  cried  Roldan,  "had  you  arrived  eight  days  later, 
we  should  all  have  been  united."     It  was  in  vain  that 
Coronal  endeavoured  to  win  this  turbulent  man  from  his 
career.     He  professed  to  oppose  only  the  tyranny  and 
misrule  of  the  Adelantado,  but  to  be  ready  to  submit  to 
the  admiral  on  his  arrival,  and  he  and  his  principal  con 
federates  wrote  letters  to  that  effect  to  their  friends  in 
San  Domingo. 

34.  When  Coronal  returned  with  accounts  of  Rol dan's 
contumacy,  the  Adelantado  proclaimed  him  and  his  fol 
lowers  traitors.     That  shrewd  rebel,  however,  did  not 
suffer  his  men  to  remain  within  the  reach  either  of  pro 
mise  or  menace.     He  proposed  to  them  to  march  off,  and 
establish  themselves  in  the  remote  province  of  Xaragua. 

35.  In  this  delightful  region,  emancipated  from  the 
iron  rule  of  the  Adelantado,  and  relieved  from  the  ne 
cessity  of  irksome  labour,  they  might  lead,  he  said,  a  life 
of  perfect   freedom  and   indulgence,   with  a   world  of 
beauty   at  their  command.     In  short,   Roldan  drew  a 
picture  of  loose  sensual  enjoyment,  such  as  he  knew  to 
be  irresistible  with  men  of  idle  and  dissolute  habits.  His 
followers  acceded  with  joy  to  his  proposition  ;  so,  putting 
himself  at  their  head,  he  marched  away  for  Xaragua, 
where  he  was  kindly  received  by  the  natives. 


130  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

36.  Scarcely  had  the  rebels  departed,  when  fresh  in* 
eurrections  broke  out  among-  the  Indians  of  the  vega. 
The  cacique  Guarionex,  moved  by  the  instigations  of 
Roldan,  entered  into  a  new  league  to  destroy  the  Span 
iards.     The  plot  exploded  before  its  time,  and  was  de 
feated  ;  and  Guarionex  fled  to  the  mountains  of  Ciguay, 
with  his  family,  and  a  small  band  of  faithful  followers. 

37.  The  inhabitants  of  these  mountains  were  the  most 
robust  and  hardy  tribe  of  the  island,  and  the  same  who 
had  skirmished  with  the  Spaniards  in  the  Gulf  of  Sama- 
na,  in  the  course  of  the  first  voyage  of  Columbus.     The 
reader  may  remember  the  frank  and  confiding  faith  with 
which  their  cacique  trusted  himself  on  board  of  the  cara 
vel  of  the  admiral,  the  day  after  the  skirmish.     It  was  to 
this  same  cacique,  named  Mayonabex,  that  the  fugitive 
chieftain  of  the  vega  applied  for  refuge,  and  he  received 
a  promise  of  protection. 

38.  Indignant  at  finding  his  former  clemency  of  no 
avail,  the  Adelantado  pursued  Guarionex  to  the  moun 
tains  at  the  head  of  ninety  men,  a  few  cavalry,  and  a  body 
of  Indians.     They  had  to  climb  rocks,  wade  rivers,  and 
make  their  way  through  tangled  forests,  almost  imper 
vious  to  men,  encumbered  with  targets,  crossbows,  and 
lances.     Ambushes  of  Indians,  also,  would  rush  forth 
with  furious  yells,  discharge  their  weapons,  and  take  re 
fuge  again  among  rocks  and  thickets,  where  it  was  in 
vain  to  follow  them. 

39.  Don  Bartholomew  arrived,  at  length,  in  the  neigh 
bourhood  of  the  residence  of  Mayonabex,  and  sent  a  mes 
senger,  demanding  the  surrender  of  Guarionex,  promising 
friendship  in  case  of  compliance,  but  threatening  fire 
and  sword,  in  case  of  refusal. 

40.  "  Tell  the  Spaniards,"  said  the  cacique,  in  reply, 
"that  they  are  tyrants,  usurpers,  and  shedders  of  inno 
cent  blood,  and  I  desire  not  their  friendship.     Guarionex 
is  a  good  man,  and  my  friend.     He  has  fled  to  me  for 
refuge  ;  I  have  promised  him  protection,  and  I  will  keep 
my  word." 

41.  The  cacique  adhered  to  his  promise  with  admira 
ble  faith.     His  villages  were  burnt,  his  territories  were 
ravaged,  himself  and  his  family  driven  to  dens  and  caves 


OP    COLUMBUS.  131 

of  the  mountains,  and  his  subjects  assailed  him  with 
clamours,  urging  him  to  give  up  the  fugitive,  who  was 
bringing  such  ruin  upon  their  tribe.  It  was  all  in  vain. 
He  was  ready,  he  declared,  to  abide  all  evils,  rather  than 
it  should  ever  be  said  Mayonabex  betrayed  his  guest. 

42.  For  three  months  the  Adelantado  hunted  these 
caciques  among  the  mountains,  during  which  time  he 
and  his  soldiers  were  almost  worn  out  with  toil  and  hun 
ger,  and  exposures  of  all  kinds.     The  retreat  of  Mayoim- 
bex  was  at  length  discovered.     Twelve  Spaniards,  dis 
guising    themselves   as   Indians,   and    wrapping   their 
swords  in  palm  leaves,  came  upon  him  secretly,  and  sur 
prised  and  captured  him,  with  his  wife  and  children,  and 
a  few  attendants. 

43.  The  Adelantado  returned,  with  his  prisoners,  to 
Fort  Conception,  where  he  afterwards  released  them  all, 
excepting  the  cacique,  whom  he  detained  as  a  hostage 
for  the  submission  of  his  tribe. 

44.  The  unfortunate  Guarionex  still  lurked  among  the 
caverns  of  the  mountains,  but  was  driven,  by  hunger,  to 
venture  down  occasionally  into  the  plain,  in  quest  of  food. 
His  haunts  were  discovered,  he  was  waylaid  and  cap 
tured  by  a  party  of  Spaniards,  and  brought  in  chains  to 
Fort  Conception,  where  he  anticipated  death  from  the 
vengeance  of  the  Adelantado. 

45.  Don  Bartholomew,  however,  though  stern  in  his 
policy,  was  neither  vindictive  nor  cruel  ;  he  contented 
himself  with  detaining  him  a  prisoner,  to  ensure  the  tran 
quillity  of  the  vega  ;  and  then  returned  to  San  Domingo, 
where,  shortly  afterwards,  he  had  the  happiness  of  wel 
coming  the  arrival  of  his  brother,  the  admiral,  after  a 
separation  of  nearly  two  years  and  a  half. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Rebellion  of  Roldan.  [1498.] 

1.  ONE  of  the  first  measures  of  Columbus,  on  his  arri 
val,  was  to  issue  a  proclamation,  approving  all  the  mea- 


132  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

sures  of  the  Adelantado,  and  denouncing-  Roldan  and  his 
associates.  A  circumstance  had  occurred  to  add  to  the 
party  and  resources  of  that  turbulent  man. 

2.  The  three  caravels  freighted  with  supplies,  which 
had  been  detached  by  Columbus  when  at  the  Canary 
Islands,  having1  been  carried  far  west  of  their  reckoning 
by  the  currents,  arrived  on  the  coast  of  Xaragua.     Rol- 
dan  went  on  board,  and,  pretending  to  be  in  command 
at  that  end  of  the  island,  succeeded  in  procuring  a  supply 
of  arms  and  military  stores :  numbers  of  the  crews,  also, 
on  being  landed,  deserted  to  the  rebels,  who  received 
them  with  shouts  of  exultation. 

3.  Discovering,  though  too  late,  the  real  character  of 
these  men,  and  fearing  further  desertions,  the  comman 
ders  of  the  ships  immediately  put  to  sea.     One  alone, 
named  Carvajal,  remained  behind,  and  passed  some  days 
with  the  rebels,  endeavouring  to  recal  them  to  their  alle 
giance.     He  represented  to  them  that  Columbus  was 
on   his   way   from   Spain   with   additional   forces,  and 
would  have  the  means  of  punishing  them  for  their  past 
conduct. 

4.  His  representations  had  their  effect.     Roldan  pro 
mised  to  repair  to  the  neighbourhood  of  San  Domingo, 
the  moment  he  heard  of  the  arrival  of  Columbus,  that  he 
might  be  at  hand  to  state  his  grievances,  and  effect  an 
amicable  arrangement.     He  kept  this  promise,  and  Co 
lumbus  had  scarcely  arrived,  before  the  rebels  began  to 
assemble  in  the  village  of  Bonao,  about  twenty  leagues 
from  San  Domingo,  -making  their  head  quarters  at  the 
house  of  one  of  the  ringleaders,  named  Pedro  Reguelme. 

5.  The  admiral  immediately  sent  an  offer,  of  full  par 
don  to  Roldan,  on  condition  of  his  return  to  duty  ;  and 
proclaimed  a  free  passage  to  all  who  wished  to  return  to 
Spain,  in  five  ships  ready  to  put  to  sea.     His  offer  of 
pardon  was  treated  with  contempt,  and  demands  were 
made  of  the  most  arrogant  nature. 

6.  The  admiral  was  disposed  to  march  at  once  against 
the  rebels,  and  bring  them  to  obedience  by  force  of  arms. 
On  mustering  the  men  of  San  Domingo,  however,  not 
above  seventy  appeared ;  and  of  these  above  thirty  ex 
cused  themselves  from  serving,  under  various  pretexts. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  133 

The  true  reason  was,  that  most  of  them  had  relatives  or 
friends  among  the  rebels. 

7.  Columbus  now  hastened  to  despatch  the  five  ships 
to  Spain,  in  which  he  gave  free  passage  to  all  who  were 
discontented  and  wished  to  return  home.    By  these  ships 
he  informed  the  sovereigns  of  the  rebellion ;   and,  as 
Roldan  pretended  that  it  was  only  a  quarrel  between  him 
and  the  Adelantado,  Columbus  begged  that  the  matter 
might  be  investigated  by  impartial  persons.     He  also  en 
treated,  that  a  man  learned  in  the  law  might  be  appoint 
ed  as  judge  over  the  island.     Roldan  and  his  friends  also 
wrote  by  these  ships,  endeavouring  to  justify  their  con 
duct  by  charging  Columbus  and  his  brothers  with  injus 
tice,  oppression,  and  various  abuses. 

8.  The  ships  being  despatched,  Columbus  resumed 
his  negotiations  with  the  rebels.     The  burden  of  their 
complaint  having  been  the  rigorous  rtile  of  his  brother, 
he  tried  the  alternative  of  lenient  conduct.     He  wrote  in 
conciliating  terms  to  Roldan,  reminding  him  of  past  kind 
nesses,  and  entreating  him,  for  the  sake  of  his  own  repu 
tation,  which  stood  well  with  the  sovereigns,  to  return  to 
his  duty.     He,  moreover,  invited  him  and  his  companions 
to  come  and  treat  with  him  at  San  Domingo,  pledging 
his  word  for  their  security. 

9.  Meetings  took  place,  but  without  beneficial  result. 
Agreements  were  made  and  faithlessly  broken  by  the 
rebels,  who  felt  their  power,  and  increased  in  the  inso 
lence  of  their  demands. 

10.  In  the  midst  of  his  perplexities,  Columbus  receiv 
ed  from  Spain  a  reply  to  the  letter  he  had  written  on  the 
subject  of  the  rebellion.     It  was  penned  by  his  invidious 
enemy  the  Bishop  Fonseca,  and  was  of  the  most  ungra 
cious  tenor,  informing  him  that  the  matter  must  remain  in 
suspense  until  it  could  be  investigated  by  the  sovereigns. 

11.  This  cold  reply  had  a  disheartening  effect  upon 
Columbus,  while  it  increased  the  confidence  of  the  rebels, 
who  saw  that  his  complaints  had  little  weight  with  the 
government.     In  their  subsequent  negotiations,  Roldan 
conducted  more  like  a  conqueror  exacting  terms,  than  a 
delinquent  seeking  pardon. 

12.  The  mind  grows  wearied  with  recording,  and  the 

12 


134  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

generous  heart  must  burn  with  indignation  in  perusing", 
the  story  of  this  ineffectual  struggle  of  a  man  like  Co 
lumbus  in  the  toils  of  contemptible  miscreants. 

13.  Surrounded  by  doubt  and  danger,  a  foreigner  among 
a  jealous  people,  an  unpopular  commander  in  a  mutinous 
island,  distrusted  and  slighted  by  the  government  he  was 
seeking  to  serve,  he  knew  not  where  to  look  for  faithful 
advice,  efficient  aid,  or  candid  judgment.     He  was  fear 
ful,  too,  of  seditions  among  his  own  people,  who  talked 
of  following  the  example  of  the  rebels,  and  seizing  upon 
the  province  of  Higuey. 

14.  Thus  critically  situated,  he  was  gradually  con 
strained  to  sign  a   humiliating   capitulation  with  the 
rebels ;  giving  them  portions  of  land  in  different  parts  of 
the  island,  and  Indian  slaves  taken  in  the  wars. 

15.  He  made  an  arrangement,  also,  by  which  the  ca 
ciques  in  their  vicinity,  instead  of  paying  tribute,  should 
furnish  parties  of  their  subjects,  at  stated  times,  to  assist 
them  in  cultivating  their  lands.     These  levies  of  free 
Indians,  as  labourers,  were   called  repariimientos,  and 
were  afterwards  generally  adopted  and  shamefully  abused 
throughout  the  Spanish  colonies,  to  the  great  oppression 
and  misery  of  the  natives. 

16.  Several  of  the  partisans  of  Roldan  returned  to 
Spain  in  two  caravels  that  were  subsequently  fitted  out. 
Some  of  them  took  home  a  number  of  the  Indian  slaves 
that  had  been  granted  them  by  capitulation;  oilers  se 
cretly  carried  away  the  daughters  of  caciques,  whom 
they  had  beguiled  from  their  homes  and  families.    These 
misdeeds  of  profligate  men,  it  will  be  found,  wern  after 
wards  wrested  to  matters  of  accusation  against  Columbus. 

17.  If  Roldan  was  careful  to  obtain  extravagant  terms 
for  his  followers,  he  was  not  more  modest  in  his  demands 
for  himself.     His  first  stipulation  was,  that  he  should  be 
reinstated  in  the  office  of  alcalde  mayor,  or  chief  judge. 
His  next,  that  certain  lands  in  the  vicinity  of  Isabella 
should  be  restored  to  him.     Then,  that  he  should  have 
grants  of  a  royal  farm  situated  in  the  vega,  and  extensive 
tracts  of  land  in  Xaragua,  with  cattle  and  live  stock  be 
longing  to  the  crown,  and  repartimientos  of  Indians. 

18.  One  of  the  first  measures  of  Roldan  as  alcalde 


OF    COLUMBUS.  135 

mayor,  was  to  appoint  his  active  confederate  Pedro  Re- 
g-uelme  alcalde  of  Bonao.  Columbus  was  highly  dis 
pleased  at  this  assumption  of  a  power  not  vested  in  his 
office.  His  suspicions  were  aroused,  too,  on  hearing 
that  Reguelme,  under  pretext  of  erecting  a  farm  house, 
was  building  a  strong  edifice  on  a  hill,  capable  of  being 
converted  into  a  fortress  ;  and  he  sent  peremptory  orders 
for  him  to  desist  from  the  construction  of  it. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Visit  of  Ojeda  to  the  West  End  of  the  Island.     Conspi 
racy  of  Moxica.  [1499.} 

1.  ABOUT  this  time  reports  were  brought  to  Columbus 
that  four  ships  had  anchored  at  the  western  part  of  the 
island,  a  little  below  Jacquemel,  apparently  with  the  de 
sign  of  cutting  dye  woods,  and  carrying  off  the  natives 
for  slaves.     They  were  commanded  by  Alonzo  de  Ojeda, 
the  same  cavalier  who  had  distinguished  himself  by  the 
capture  of  Caonabo. 

2.  Knowing  the  daring  and  adventurous  spirit  of  this 
man,  the  admiral  was  disturbed  at  his  visiting  the  island 
in  this  clandestine  manner.     To  call  him  to  account, 
however,  required  a  man  of  spirit  and  address.     No  one 
seemed  fitter  for  the  purpose  than  Roldan.     He  was  as 
daring  as  Ojeda,  and  of  a  more  crafty  character.     An 
expedition  of  this  kind  would  occupy  the  attention  of 
himself  and  his  partisans,  and  divert  them  from  any 
schemes  of  mischief. 

3.  Roldan  gladly  undertook  the  enterprise.     He  set 
sail  with  two  caravels,  anchored  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Ojeda,  and,  landing  secretly  with  four  and  twenty  reso 
lute  followers,  surprised  that  cavalier  at  an  Indian  village 
several  leagues  from  his  ships.     He  demanded  a  sight 
of  his  commission,  and  his  reason  for  visiting  that  remote 
part  of  the  island,  and  cutting  dye  wood,  without  first 
reporting  himself  to  the  admiral. 

4.  Ojeda  replied,  that  his  commission  was  on  board  of 


136  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

his  ship ;  that  he  had  been  on  a  voyage  of  discovery,  and 
had  put  in  there  in  distress  to  repair  his  ships  and  obtain 
provisions ;  but  that  as  soon  as  these  matters  were  ac 
complished,  he  should  pay  his  homage  to  the  admiral. 
With  this  reply  Roldan  was  satisfied,  and,  after  visiting 
the  ships,  returned  to  San  Domingo. 

5.  The  truth  was,  that  Alonzo  de  Ojeda  had  been  at 
court  when  the  despatches  arrived  from  Columbus  giving 
account  of  his  discoveries  on  the  coast  of  Paria.     Being 
a  favourite  of  Bishop  Fonseca,  who  was  always  more 
prone  to  patronize  loose  adventurers  than  high  minded 
discoverers,  and  who  was  disposed  to  do  any  thing  that 
might  impair  the  glory  of  Columbus,  he  easily  obtain 
ed  copies  of  the  charts  and  maps  sent  home  by  the 
admiral. 

6.  Being  thus  acquainted  with  the  route  he  had  pur 
sued  in  his  last  voyage,  he  thought  to  follow  it  out,  to 
explore  the  pearl  coast,  and  finish  what  Columbus  had 
begun.     The  bishop  readily  granted  him  the  requisite 
license.     This  document  was  never  signed  by  the  sove 
reigns,  and  was  in  violation  of  their  express  agreement 
with  the  admiral. 

7.  In  this  expedition  sailed  Americus  Vesputius,*  a 
Florentine  merchant,  who  afterwards  published  an  ac 
count  of  his  voyages.     By  the  pretension  of  this  man, 
or  the  errors  or  frauds  of  others,  his  name  has  been  given 
to  the  whole  of  the  new  world :  an  honour  which  was 
due  alone  to  Columbus. 

8.  Ojeda  had  ranged  along  the  southern  continent 
from  two  hundred  leagues  east  of  the  Oronoco  to  the 
Gulf  of  Paria.     He  had  visited  the  coasts  and  islands  in 
the  vicinity,  and  trafficked  with  the  natives  for  pearls 
and  gold.     He  had  touched  at  the  Caribbee  islands, 
fought  with  the  natives,  and  brought  away  many  cap 
tives  to  be  sold  as  slaves  in  Spain,     He  had  then  sailed 
for  Hispaniola  to  obtain  provisions,  and  had  there  met 
with  Roldan.  as  has  been  mentioned. 

9.  When  the  ships  of  Ojeda  were  again  ready  for  sea, 
instead  of  sailing  for  San  Domingo,  as  he  had  promised, 

*  This  name  in  Italian  is  written  Amerigo  Vespucci.    The  latter  word 
is  pronounced  Vespuchy. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  137 

he  steered  for  the  coast  of  Xaragua.  His  arrival  pro 
duced  brawls  arid  tumults  among  many  of  the  late  rebels, 
who  were  quartered  in  that  province.  Some  of  them 
were  for  placing  Ojeda  at  their  head,  and  marching 
against  Columl.us,  to  compel  the  redress  of  pretended 
grievances.  Others  demurred,  and  quarrels  took  place 
in  which  several  were  killed. 

10.  In  the  midst  of  this  confusion,  Roldan  arrived  in 
the  neighbourhood  with  a  band  of  resolute  followers. 
Some  of  the  residents  joined  him.     A  long  course  of 
maneuvering  took  place  between  these  well  matched 
adversaries,  each  wary  of  the  other.      Ojeda  was  at 
length  obliged  to  abandon  the  coast,  and  made  sail  for 
some  other  island,  to  complete  a  cargo  of  Indian  slaves. 

11.  The  followers  of  Roldan  took  great  merit  to  them 
selves  for  their  unwonted  loyalty  in  driving  Ojeda  from 
the  island  ;  and,  like  all  reformed  knaves,  expected  that 
their  good  conduct  would  be  amply  rewarded.     Looking 
upon  their  leader  as  having  every  thing  in  his  gift,  they 
requested  him  to  share  among  them  the  fine  province  of 
Cahay,  adjoining  to  Xaragua. 

12.  Roldan,  who  was  now  anxious  to  establish  a  cha 
racter  of  adherence  to  the  law,  declined  acceding  to  their 
wishes,  until  sanctioned  by  the  admiral ;  but,  to  soothe 
their  rapacity,  he  shared  among  them  the  lands  which 
had  been  granted  to  him  in  Xaragua.     While  he  was  re 
maining  in  this  neighbourhood,  other  troubles  broke  out, 
and  from  somewhat  of  a  romantic  cause. 

13.  A  young  cavalier  of  noble  family,  but  headstrong 
passions,  named  Hernando  de  Guevara,  cousin  to  Adrian 
de  Mosica,  one  of  the  ringleaders  of  the  late  rebellion, 
was  banished  from  San  Domingo  for  licentious  conduct, 
and  s»;nt  to  Xaragua,  to  embark  in  the  ships  of  Ojeda, 
but  arrived  after  their  departure. 

14.  He  was  favourably  received  at  the  house  of  the 
female  cacique  Anacaona ;  and  became  enamoured  of 
her  daughter  Higuenamota,  who  was  just  grown  up,  and 
greatly  admired  for  her  beauty.     Guevara  possessed  an 
agreeable  person,  and  winning  manners,  and  his  endear 
ments  soon  won  the  heart  of  the  simple  Indian  girl. 

15.  Ariacaoria  favoured  his  attachment ;  especially  as 

12* 


138  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

he  sought  her  daughter  in  marriage.  Roldan  was  him 
self  attached  to  the  young  Indian  beauty,  and  jealous  of 
her  preference  of  his  rival.  He  exerted  his  authority  to 
separate  the  lovers,  and  banished  Guevara  to  the  province 
ofCahay. 

16.  The  latter  soon  returned,  concealed  himself  in 
the  dwelling  of  Anacaona,  and  fomented  a  conspiracy 
among  the  old  comrades  of  Roldan,  who  detested  as  a 
magistrate  the  man  they  had  idolized  as  a  leader.     It  was 
concerted  to  rise  suddenly  upon  him,  and  either  to  kill 
him  or  put  out  his  eyes.     The  plot  was  discovered ; 
Guevara  with  seven  of  his  accomplices  were  arrested, 
and  sent  to  the  fortress  of  San  Domingo. 

17.  When  Adrian  de  Moxica  heard  that  his  cousin 
Guevara  was  arrested,  and  that  too  by  his  former  con 
federate  Roldan,  he  was  highly  exasperated.  He  hasten 
ed  to  the  old  haunt  of  rebellion  at  Bonao,  where  he  was 
seconded  by  Pedro  Reguelme,  the  newly  appointed  al 
calde.     They  went  round  among  their  late  fellow  rebels, 
and  soon  mustered  a  daring  body  of  men,  ready  with 
horse  and  weapon  for  any  desperate  enterprise.  Moxica, 
in  his  fury,  meditated  not  merely  the  rescue  of  his  cousin, 
but  the  death  of  Roldan  and  the  admiral. 

18.  Columbus  was  at  Fort  Conception,  with  an  incon 
siderable  force,  when  he  heard  of  this  dangerous  plot. 
He  saw  that  his  safety  depended  upon  prompt  and  vigor 
ous  measures.     Taking  with  him  but  six  or  seven  trusty 
servants,  and  three  esquires,  all  well  armed,  he  came  sud 
denly  upon  the  conspirators  in  the  night,  seized  Moxica 
and  several  of  his  principal  confederates,  and  bore  them 
off  to  Fort  Conception. 

19.  Resolving  to  set  an  example  that  should  strike 
terror  into  the  factious,  he  ordered  that  Moxica  should 
be  hanged  on  the  top  of  the  fortress.     The  latter  entreat 
ed  to  be  allowed  a  confessor.     A  priest  was  sent  for. 

20.  The  miserable  culprit,  who  had  been  so  daring  in 
rebellion,  lost  all  courage  at  the  near  approach  of  death. 
He  delayed,  and  hesitated  in  his  confession,  as  if  hoping 
by  whiling  away  time  to  give  a  chance  for  rescue.     In 
stead  of  confessing  his  own  sins,  he  began  to  accuse 
others,  until  Columbus,  losing  all  patience,  i^  his  min- 


OF    COLUMBUS.  139 

gled  indignation  and  scorn,  ordered  the  dastard  wretch  to 
be  flung  from  the  battlements. 

21.  This  act  of  severity  was  promptly  followed  up. 
Pedro  Reguelme  was  taken  with  several  of  his  compeers, 
in  his  ruffian  den  at  Bonao,  and  conveyed  to  the  fortress 
of  San  Domingo.     The  conspirators  fled  for  the  most 
part  to  Xaragua,  where  they  were  pursued  by  the  Ade- 
lantado,  seconded  by  Roldan,  and  hunted  out  of  ah1  their 
old  retreats. 

22.  Thus  in  a  little  while  the  power  of  faction  was 
completely  subdued.     The  troubles  and  dangers  which 
had  surrounded  Columbus  seemed  breaking  away,  and  or 
der  coming  out  of  confusion.     He  now  looked  forward 
to  the  prosecution  of  his  grand  enterprises,  the  exploring 
the  coast  of  Paria,  and  the  establishment  of  a  pearl  fishery 
in  its  waters. 

23.  How  illusive  were  his  hopes  !  at  this  very  ron. 
ment  events  were  maturing  that  were  to  overwhelm  him 
with  distress,  strip  him  of  his  honours,  and  render  him 
comparatively  a  wreck  for  the  remainder  of  his  days. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Intrigues  against  Columbus  in  the  Spanish  Court.  Ap 
pointment  of  Bobadilla  as  commissioner.  His  arrival 
at  San  Domingo.  [1500.] 

1.  WHILE  Columbus  was  involved  in  a  series  of  dif 
ficulties  in  Hispaniola,  his  enemies  were  but  too  success 
ful  in  undermining  his  reputation  in  the  court  of  Spain. 
The  bishop  Fonseca,  and  others,  who  had  frequent  access 
to  the  sovereigns,  were  enabled  to  place  every  thing  urged 
against  him  in  the  strongest  light,  while  they  destroyed 
the  force  of  his  vindications. 

2.  Every  vessel  from  the  new  world  carne  freighted 
with  complaints  and  calumnies  ;  it  was  even  alleged, 
that  Columbus  intended  to  cast  off  allegiance  to  Spain, 
and  either  make  himself  sovereign  of  the  countries  he 
had  discovered,  or  yield  them  into  the  hands  of  some 


140  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

other  power ;  a  slander,  which,  however  extravagant, 
was  calculated  to  startle  the  jealous  mind  of  Ferdi 
nand. 

3.  Every  repining  man  who  returned  from  the  colony 
with  real  or  fancied  claims  for  arrears  of  pay,  or  losses 
sustained,  was  secretly  instigated  to  beset  the  king  in 
person.     A  gang  of  disorderly  ruffians,  who  had  been 
shipped  off  to  free  the  island  from  their  seditions,  found 
their  way  to  the  court  at  Granada.     They  followed  the 
king  when  he  appeared  in  public,  clamouring  for  their 
pay. 

4.  About  fifty  of  them  assembled  one  day  in  the  main 
court  of  the  Albambra,  whining  and  complaining  under 
the  windows  of  the  royal  apartments,  and  holding  up 
bunches  of  grapes  as  the  faieag;re  diet  to  which  they 
were  reduced  by  the  cruel  deceits  of  Columbus.     The 
two  sons  of  the  admiral,  who  were  pages  to  the  queen, 
happening  to  pass  by  at  the  time,  they  followed  them 
with  imprecations.  "  There  go,"  cried  they,  "the  whelps 
of  him  who  discovered  the  land  of  vanity  and  delusion  ; 
the  grave  of  Spanish  cavaliers  !" 

5.  The  incessant  repetition  of  falsehood  will  gradually 
wear  its  way  into  the  most  candid  mind.     Isabella  her 
self  began  at  length  to  doubt.     Columbus  and  his  bro 
thers,  though  upright,  might  be  injudicious,  and  mis 
chief  is  oftener  produced  in  government  through  error  of 
judgment  than  iniquity  of  design.     Isabella  doubted,  but 
the  jealous  Ferdinand  felt  convinced. 

6.  He  had  never  regarded  Columbus  with  real  cordiali 
ty  ;  and,  ever  since  he  had  ascertained  the  importance 
of  his  discoveries,  had  regretted  the  extensive  powers  he 
had  vested  in  his  hands.     He  now  resolved  to  send  out 
some  person  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the  colony,  and, 
if  necessary  for  its  safety,  to  assume  the  command. 

7.  At  this  juncture  arrived  the   two   caravels   with 
some  of  the  late  followers  of  Roldan.     Beside  the  slaves 
which  Columbus  had  been  obliged  to  grant  them  by  the 
articles  of  capitulation,  several  of  them,  as  has  been  re 
lated,  had  secretly  brought  off  the  daughters  of  caciques 
whom  they  had  seduced  from  their  homes.     Some  of 
these  were  in  a  state  of  pregnancy,  others  had  new  born 


OF   COLUMBUS.  141 

infants.     These  wrongs  were  said  to -have  been  all  au 
thorized  by  Columbus. 

8.  The  sensibility  of  Isabella  as  a  woman,  and  her 
dignity  as  a  queen,  were  instantly  in  arms.     "  What 
right,"  exclaimed  she,  indignantly,  "  has  the  admiral  to 
give  away  my  vassals  V     She  immediately  ordered  all 
the  Indians  to  be  restored  to  their  homes  ;  nay,  more, 
she  commanded  that  those  which  had  formerly  been  sent 
to  Spain  by  the  admiral,  should  be  sought  out  and  reship- 
ped  to  Hispaniola. 

9.  Unfortunately  for  Columbus,  at  this  very  juncture, 
in  one  of  his  letters,  he  advised  the  continuance  of  In 
dian  slavery  for  some  time  longer,  as  a  measure  impor 
tant  to  the  welfare  of  the  colony.     This  contributed  to 
heighten  the  indignation  of  Isabella,  and  induced  her  no 
longer  to  oppose  the  sending  out  a  commissioner  to  in 
vestigate  his  conduct,  and,  if  necessary,  to  supersede 
him  in  command. 

10.  The  person  chosen  for  this  most  momentous  of- 
fice  was  Don  Francisco  de  BobadiUa,  an  officer  of  the 
royal  household,  and  commander  of  the  military  and  re 
ligious  order  of  Calatrava.     He  is  represented  by  some 
as  a  very  honest  and  religious  man ;  by  others,  and  with 
apparent  justice,  as  needy,  passionate,  and  ambitious — 
three  powerful  objections  to  his  acting  as  judge  in  a 
case  where  the  utmost  caution   and  candour  were  re 
quired,  and  where  he  was  to  derive  wealth  and  power 
from  the  conviction  of  one  of  the  parties. 

11.  Bobadilla  arrived  at  San  Domingo  on  the  23d  of 
August,  1500.     Before  entering  the  harbour,  he  learnt 
that  the  admiral  and  the  Adelantado  were  absent  in  the 
interior  of  the  island,  and  Don  Diego  in  command.     He 
was  told  of  the  recent  insurrection  of  Moxica,  and  the 
punishments  which  had  followed.     Seven  of  the  rebels 
had  been  hanged  that  week,  and  five  more  were  in  the 
fortress  of  San  Domingo,  condemned  to  suffer  the  same 
fate. 

12.  Among  these  were  Pedro  Reguelme,  the  factious 
alcalde  of  Bonao,  and  Fernando  de  Guevara,  the  young- 
cavalier,  whose  passion  for  the  daughter  of  Anacaona 
had  been  the  original  cause  of  the  rebellion.     As  the  ves* 


142  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

sels  entered  the  river,  Bobadilla  beheld  on  either  bank  a 
gibbet,  with  the  body  of  a  Spaniard  hanging  on  it.  He 
considered  all  these  circumstances  as  conclusive  proofs 
of  the  alleged  cruelty  of  Columbus.  < 

13.  The  report  had  already  circulated  in  the  city,  that 
a  commissioner  had  arrived  to  make  inquisition  into  the 
late  troubles.     Many  hastened  on  board  the  ship  to  pay 
early  court  to  this  public  censor,  and  to  have  the  first 
telling  of  their  story  ;  and  their  accounts,  of  course,  were 
generally  unfavourable  to  the  admiral.     In  fact,  before 
Bobadilla  landed,  if  not  before  he  arrived,  the  culpability 
of  Columbus  was  decided  in  his  mind. 

14.  He  acted  accordingly.     He  made  proclamations 
at  the  church  door,  in  presence  of  Don  Diego  and  the 
other  persons  in  authority,  of  his  letters  patent,  authori 
zing  him  to  investigate  the  rebellion  ;  and  demanded  that 
Guevara,  Reguelme,  and  the  other  prisoners,  should  be 
delivered  up  to  him,  with  the  depositions  taken  in  their 
cases. 

15.  Don  Diego  declared  he  could  do  nothing  of  the 
kind  without  the  authority  of  the  admiral,  and  requested 
a  copy  of  the  letters  patent,  tlmt  he  might  send  it  to  his 
brother.     This  Bobadilla  refused,  and  added,  that  since 
the  office  he  proclaimed  appeared  to  have  no  weight,  he 
would  try  what  efficacy  there  was  in  the  name  of  governor. 

16.  On  the  following  day,  therefore,  he  caused  another 
royal  patent  to  be  read,  investing  him  with  the  govern 
ment  of  the  islands,  and  of  Terra  Firma ;  an  authority 
which  he  was  only  to  have  assumed  on  absolute  proof  of 
the  delinquency  of  Columbus.     This  letter  being  read, 
he  again  demanded  the  prisoners,  and  was  again  refused  ; 
Don  Dieo-o  observing,  that  they  were  held  in  obedience 
to  the  admiral,  to  whom  the  sovereigns  had  granted  let 
ters  of  a  higher  nature. 

17.  Bobadilla  now  produced  a  mandate  from  the  crown, 
ordering  Columbus  and  his  brothers  to  deliver  up  all  for 
tresses,  ships,  and  other  royal  property ;  and  another, 
ordering  that  the  arrears  of  wages  due  to  all  persons  in 
the  royal  service  should  be  immediately  paid,  and  the 
admiral  compelled  to  pay  the  arrears  of  those  to  whom 
he  was  individually  accountable. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  143 

18.  This  last  document  was  received  with  shouts  by 
the  multitude,  to  many  of  whom  long  arrears  were  due, 
in  consequence  of  the  poverty  of  the  treasury.     Flushed 
with  his  growing  popularity,  Bobadilla  again  demanded 
the  prisoners,  and  receiving  the  same  reply,  he  proceed 
ed  to  the  fortress,  and  made  a  formal  demand  of  them  of 
the  Alcayde  Miguel  Diaz.     The  latter  refued  to  surren 
der  them  to  any  one  but  the  admiral. 

19.  Upon  this,  Bobadilla  assembled  the  sailors  of  the 
ships,  and  the  rabble  of  the  place,  marched  them  to  the 
prison,  broke  open  the  door,  which  readily  gave  way, 
while  some  of  his  myrmidons  put  up  ladders  to  scale  the 
walls.     The  fortress,  having  no  garrison,  was  easily  car 
ried,  and  the  prisoners  wore  borne  off  in  triumph,  and 
given  in  custody  to  an  algiiazil. 

20.  Such  was  the  entrance  into  office  of  Francisco  de 
Bobadilla,  and  he  continued  his  career  in  the  same  spirit. 
He  took  up  his  residence  in  the  house  of  Columbus, 
seized  upon  his  arms,  gold,  piate,  jewels,  horses,  books, 
and  most  secret  papers  ;  paying  out  of  the  property  thus 
seized  the  wages  of  those  to  whom  the  admiral  was  in 
arrears,  and  disposing  of  the  rest  as  if  already  confiscated 
to  the  crown. 

21.  He  even  hinted  that  he  was  empowered  to  send 
Columbus  home  in  chains,  and  declared  that  neither  he, 
nor  any  of  his  lineage,  would  ever  again  be  permitted  to 
govern  the  island.     To  increase  his  favour  with  the  peo 
ple,  he  proclaimed  a  general  license  for  twenty  years,  to 
seek  for  gold,  paying  merely  an  eleventh  *o  government, 
instead  of  a  third,  as  formerly. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

Columbus  arrested  and  sent  to  Spain. 

1.  COLUMBUS  was  at  Fort  Conception  in  the  Vega 
when  he  heard  of  the  high  handed  proceedings  of  Boba 
dilla.  He  at  first  considered  him  some  rash  adventurer 
like  Ojeda,  but  rinding  that  he  acted  under  royal  au- 


144  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

thority,  he  supposed  him  some  person  in  commission, 
like  Aguado,  who  was  transcending  his  powers.  He 
wrote  a  temperate  letter  to  him,  therefore,  cautioning 
him  against  his  precipitate  measures,  and  issued  counter 
proclamations^  nullify  those  which  were  disturbing 
the  island. 

2.  Bobadilla,  in  reply,  sent  him  a  copy  of  the  royal 
letter  of  credence,  commanding  his  implicit  obedience 
to  whatever  he  should  enact,  and,  in  virtue  of  this  docu 
ment,  commanded  him  to  appear  before  him  immediately 
at  San  Domingo. 

3.  A  vulgar  rumour  circulated  among  the  populace 
that  Columbus  intended  to  resist  his  authority,  and  was 
enlisting  the  caciques  of  the  vega  under  his  banner. 
Bobadilla  believed,  or  affected  to  believe  this  rumour, 
He  mustered  the  troops,  and  made  a  bustle  of  military 
preparation  ;  then  arresting  Don  Diego,  he  threw  him 
in  irons  and  confined  him  on  board  of  a  caravel,  without 
assigning  any  reason  for  such  treatment. 

4.  In  the  mean  time  Columbus,  with  his  wonted  loy 
alty,  yielded  implicit  obedience  to  the  cruel  letter  of 
his  sovereigns,  though  it  struck  at  once  at  the  root  of  his 
well  earned  dignity  and  power,  and  put  him  under  the 
control   of  Bobadilla.      Without  hesitation   or  demur, 
he  obeyed  the  summons  of  this  shallow  man,  and  ap 
peared  almost  unattended  at  the  gates  of  San  Domingo. 
No  sooner  did  Bobadilla  hear  of  his  arrival,  than  he  gave 
orders  to  put  him  also  in  irons,  and  to  confine  him  in  the 
fortress. 

5.  This  outrage  to  a  person  of  such  venerable  appear 
ance,  and  eminent  merit,  seemed  for  a  time  to  shock 
even  his  enemies.     When  the  irons  were  brought,  every 
one  present  shrunk  from  the  task  of  putting  them  on  him, 
either  out  of  a  sentiment  of  compassion  at  so  great  a  re 
verse  of  fortune,  or  out  of  habitual  reverence  for  his  per 
son.     To  fill  the  measure  of  ingratitude  meted  out  to 
him,  it  was  one  of  his  own  servants  that  volunteered  to 
rivet  his  fetters. 

6.  Columbus  conducted  himself  with  characteristic 
magnanimity  under  the  injuries  heaped  upon  him.  There 
is  a  noble  scorn  which  swells  and  supports  the  heart,  and 


Columbus  in  Chains. 


OF    COLUMBUS.  145 

silences  the  tongue  of  the  truly  great,  when  enduring  the 
insults  of  the  unworthy.  Columbus  could  not  stoop  to 
deprecate  the  arrogance  of  a  weak  and  violent  man  like 
Bobadilla. 

7.  He  looked  beyond  this  shallow  agent,  and  all  his 
petty  tyranny,  to  the  sovereigns  who  had  employed  him. 
It  was  their  injustice  and  ingratitude  alone  that  could 
wound  his  spirit ;  and  he  felt  assured  that  when  the 
truth  came  to  be  known,  they  would  blush  to  find  how 
greatly  they  had  wronged  him.     With  this  proud  assu 
rance,  he  bore  all  present  indignities  in  silence. 

8.  He  even  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Adelantado,  who  was 
still  in  Xaragua,  at  the  head  of  an  armed  force,  exhorting 
him  to  submit  quietly  to  the  will  of  the  sovereigns.  Don 
Bartholomew  immediately  complied,  and  hastened  peace- 
full  v  to  San  Domingo,  where  he  experienced  the  same 
treatment  with  his  brothers,  being  put  in  irons,  and  con 
fined  on  board  of  a  caravel. 

9.  They  were  kept  separate  from  each  other,  and  no 
communication  permitted  between  them.     Bobadilla  did 
not  see  them  himself,  nor  did  he  allow  others  to  visit 
them ;  and  they  were  kept  in  total  ignorance  of  the 
crimes  with  which  they  were  charged,  and  the  proceed 
ings  that  were  instituted  against  them. 

10.  The  scenes  of  the  time  of  Aguado  were  now  re 
newed,  with  tenfold  virulence.     All  the  old  charges  were 
revived,  and  others  added,  still  more  extravagant.    Even 
the  late  tumults  were  turned  into  matters  of  accusation, 
and  the  rebels  admitted  as  evidence. 

11.  The  well-merited  punishments  inflicted  upon  cer 
tain  of  ths  ringleaders  were  cited  as  proofs  of  a  cruel  and 
sevengeful  disposition,  and  a  secret  hatred  of  Spaniards. 
Guevara,  Reguelme,  and  their  fellow  convicts,  were  dis 
charged  almost  without  the  form  of  a  triaJ.     Roldan, 
from  the  very  first,  had  been  treated  with  confidence  by 
Bobadilla  ;  all  the  others,  whose  conduct  had  rendered 
them  liable  to  justice,  received  either  a  special  acquittal 
or  a  general  pardon. 

12.  San  Domingo  now  swarmed  with  miscreants,  just 
delivered  from  the  dungeon  and  the  gibbet.     Every  base 
spirit  which  had  been  overawed  by  Columbus  and  his 

13 


146  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

brothers  when  in  power,  now  hastened  to  revenge  itself 
upon  them  when  in  chains.  The  most  injurious  slanders 
were  loudly  proclaimed  in  the  streets,  libels  were  posted 
up  at  the  corners,  and  horns  blown  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  their  prisons,  to  taunt  them  with  the  exultings  of  the 
rabble. 

13.  Bobadilla  had  now  collected  testimony  sufficient, 
as  he  thought,  to  ensure  the  condemnation  of  the  prison* 
ers,  and  his  own  continuance  in  command.     He  deter, 
mined,  therefore,  to  send   home  the   admiral  and   his 
brothers  in  chains,  in  the  vessels  which  were  ready  for 
sea,  with  the  inquest  taken  in  their  case,  and  private 
letters  enforcing  the  charges  made  against  them. 

14.  The  charge  of  conducting  the  prisoners  to  Spain 
was  given  to  Alonzo  de  Villejo,*  an  officer  in  the  employ 
of  Bishop  Fonseca,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been  the 
secret  instigator  of  all  these  violent  proceedings. 

15.  Villejo,  however,  was  a  man  of  honourable  charac 
ter,  and  generous  feelings,  and  showed  himself  superior 
to  the  low  malignity  of  his  patron.     When  he  arrived 
with  a  guard  to  conduct  the  admiral  from  the  prison  to 
the  ship,  he  found  him  in  chains,  in  a  state  of  deep  de 
spondency,  fearing  that  he  should  be  sacrificed  without  a 
hearing,  and  that  his  name  would  go  down  to  posterity 
sullied  with  imputed  crimes. 

16.  Seeing  the  officer  enter  with  the  guard,  he  thought 
it  was  to  conduct  him  to  the  scaffold.     "  Villejo,"  said 
he  mournfully,  "  whither  are  you  taking  me  V  "  To  the 
ship,   your  excellency,  to  embark,"  replied  the  other. 
"  To  embark  !"  echoed  the  admiral.     "  Villejo,  do  you 
speak  the  truth  ]"  "  By  the  life  of  your  excellency,"  re 
plied  the  honest  officer,  "  it  is  true  !"  With  these  words 
the  admiral  was  comforted,  and  felt  as  one  restored  from 
death  to  life. 

17.  The  caravels  set  sail  early  in  October,  bearing  off 
Columbus  shackled  like  the  vilest  of  culprits,  amidst  the 
scoffs  and  shouts  of  a  miscreant  rabble,  who  took  a  brutal 
joy  in  heaping  insults  on  his  venerable  head,  and  sent 
curses  after  him  from  the  island  he  had  so  recently  added 
to  the  civilized  world. 

*  Pronounced  VUlebo. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  147 

18.  Fortunately  the  voyage  was  favourable  and   of 
moderate  duration,  and  was  rendered  less  irksome  to 
Columbus,  by  the  conduct  of  those  to  whom  he  was 
given  in  custody.     The  worthy  Villejo,  as  well  as  An 
dreas  Martin,  the  master  of  the  caravel,  always  treated 
him  with  profound  respect  and  assiduous  attention.  They 
would  have  taken  off  his  irons,  but  to  this  he  would  not 
consent. 

19.  "  No,"  said  he,  proudly,  "their  majesties  command 
ed  me  by  letter  to  submit  to  whatever  Bobadilla  should 
order  in  their  name  ;  by  their  authority  he  has  put  upon 
me  these  chains  ;    I  will  wear  them  until  they  shall  or 
der  them  to  be  taken  off,  and  I  will  afterwards  preserve 
them  as  relics   and  memorials   of  the  reward  of  my 
services." 

20.  "  He  did  so,"  adds  his  son  Fernando,  in  his  his 
tory  ;  "  I  saw  them  always  hanging  in  his  cabinet,  and 
he  requested  that  when  'he  died  they  might  be  buried 
with  him !" 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Arrival  of  Columbus  in  Spain.  His  Interview  with  the 
Sovereigns.  Appointment  of  Ovando  to  the  Government 
of  Hispaniola.  [1500.] 

1.  THE  arrival  of  Columbus,  a  prisoner,  and  in  chains, 
produced  a  general  burst  of  indignation  in  Cadiz,  which 
was  echoed  throughout  Spain.     No  one  stopped  to  rea 
son  on  the  subject.     It  was  sufficient  to  be  told  that  Co 
lumbus  was  brought  home  in  chains  from  the  world  he 
had  discovered. 

2.  On  the  arrival  of  the  ships  at  Cadiz,  Columbus  sent 
off  privately  by  express  a  long  letter,  to  a  lady  of  the 
court,  high  in  favour  with  the  queen.     It  contained  an 
ample  vindication  of  his  conduct,  couched  in  eloquent, 
and  dignified,  and  touching  language.     When  it  was 
read  to  the  noble-minded  Isabella,  her  heart  was  filled 
with  mingled  sympathy  and  indignation. 


148  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

3.  Ferdinand  joined  with  his  generous  queen,  in  rep- 
rebating  the  treatment  of  the  admiral.     Without  wait 
ing  to  receive  any  documents  from  Bobadilla,  they  sent 
orders  that  the  prisoners  should  be  instantly  set  at  liberty, 
and  treated  with  all  distinction  ;  and  that  two  thousand 
ducats  should  be  advanced  to  Columbus  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  his  journey  to  court.     They  wrote  him  a 
ietter  at  the  same  time,  expressing  their  grief  at  all  that 
he  had  suffered,  and  inviting  him  to  Granada. 

4.  Columbus  appeared  at  court,  not  as  a  man  ruined 
and  disgraced,  but  richly  dressed,  and  with  an  honoura 
ble  retinue.     He  was  received  with  unqualified  favour 
and  distinction.     When  the  queen  beheld  this  venerable 
man  approach,  and  thought  on  all  he  had  deserved,  ana 
all  that  he  had  suffered,  she  was  moved  to  tears. 

5.  Columbus  had  endured  with  lofty  scorn  the  in- 
iuries  and  insults  of  ignoble  men ;  but,  when  he  found 
himself  thus  kindly  received,  and  beheld  tears  in  the  be 
nign  eyes  of  Isabella,  his  long  suppressed  feelings  burst 
forth ;  he  threw  himself  upon  his  knees,  and  for  some 
time  could  not  utter  a  word  for  tears  and  sobbings.    Fer 
dinand  and  Isabella  raised  him  from  the  ground,  and  en 
deavoured  to  encourage  him  by  the  most  gracious  ex 
pressions. 

6.  As  soon  as  he  regained  his  self-possession,  he  en 
tered  into  an  eloquent  and  high  minded  vindication  of 
his  conduct :  but  there  was  no  need  of  vindication  on  his 
part.    He  stood  in  the  presence  of  his  sovereigns  a  deeply 
injured  man,  and  it  remained  for  them  to  vindicate  them 
selves  to  the  world,  from  the  charge  of  ingratitude  to 
wards  their  most  deserving  subject. 

7.  They  expressed  their  indignation  at  the  proceedings 
of  Bobadilla,  which  they  disavowed,  as  contrary  to  his 
instructions ;  and  they  promised  that  he  should  be  im 
mediately  dismissed  from  his  command,  and  the  admiral 
reinstated  in  all  his  privileges  and  dignities,  and  indem 
nified  for  the  losses  he  had  sustained. 

8.  Columbus  now  expected,  of  course,  to  be  immedi 
ately  sent  back  in  triumph  to  San  Domingo,  as  viceroy 
and  admiral  of  the  Indies  ;  but  in  this  he  was  doomed  to 
experience   disappointment.      Ferdinand,   however  he 


OF   COLUMBUS.  149 

might  have  disapproved  of  the  violence  of  Bobadilla,  was 
secretly  well  pleased  with  its  effects.  It  had  produced 
a  temporary  exclusion  of  Columbus  from  his  high  offices, 
and  the  politic  monarch  determined,  in  his  heart,  that  he 
should  never  be  restored  to  them. 

9.  He  had  long  repented  having  vested  such  great 
powers  and  prerogatives  in  any  subject,  particularly  in  a 
foreigner ;  but  at  the  time  of  granting  them,  he  had  no 
idea  of  the  magnitude  of  the  countries  over  which  they 
would  be  exercised.    Recent  discoveries,  made  by  various 
individuals,  put  it  beyond  a  doubt  that  these  countries 
must  be  inexhaustible  in  wealth,  as  they  appeared  to  be 
boundless  in  extent. 

10.  Yet  over  all  these  Columbus  was  to  be  viceroy, 
with  a  share  in  their  productions,  and  in  the  profits  of 
their  trade,  that  must  yield  him  an  incalculable  revenue. 
The  selfish  monarch  appeared  almost  to  consider  himself 
outwitted  in  the  arrangement  he  had  made  ;  and  every 
new  discovery,  instead  of  increasing  his  feeling  of  grati 
tude  to  Columbus,  seemed  only  to  make  him  repine  at 
the  growing  magnitude  of  his  reward. 

11.  Another  grand  consideration  with  the  monarcn 
was,  that  Columbus  was  no  longer  indispensable  to  him. 
He  had  made  his  great  discovery ;  he  had  struck  out  the 
route  to  the  new  world,  and  now  any  one  could  follow  it. 
A  number  of  able  navigators  had  sprung  up  under  his 
auspices,  who  were  daily  besieging  the  throne  with  offers 
to  fit  out  expeditions  at  their  own  cost,  and  to  yield  a 
share  of  the  profits  to  the  crown.    Why  should  he,  there 
fore,  confer  princely  dignities  and  prerogatives  for  that 
which  men  were  daily  offering  to  perform  gratuitously  ? 

12.  Such,  from  his  after  conduct,  appears  to  have  been 
the  jealous  and  selfish  policy  which  actuated  Ferdinand 
in  forbearing  to  reinstate  Columbus.     Plausible  reasons, 
however,  were  given  for  delaying  his  re-appointment. 

13.  It  was  observed  that  the  elements  of  those  factions 
which  had  recently  been  in  arms  yet  existed  in  the  island, 
and  might  produce  fresh  troubles  should  Columbus  return 
immediately.     It  was  represented  as  advisable,  therefore, 
to  send  some  officer  of  talent  and  discretion  to  supersede 
Bobadilla,  and  to  hold  the  government  for  two  years,  by 

13* 


150  LIFE   AND   VOYAGES 

which  time  all  angry  passions  would  be  allayed,  and  tur 
bulent  individuals  removed.  Columbus  might  then  re 
sume  the  command,  with  comfort  to  himself,  and  advan 
tage  to  the  crown.  With  this  arrangement  the  admiral 
was  obliged  to  content  himself. 

14.  The  person  chosen  to  supersede  Bobadilla  was 
Don  Nicholas  de  Ovando,  commander  of  Lares,  of  the 
order  of  Alcantara.     He  is  described  as  being  of  the 
middle  size,  with  a  fair  complexion,  a  red  beard,  a  mo 
dest  look,  yet  a  tone  of  authority  ;  fluent  in  speech,  cour 
teous  in  manners,  prudent,  just,  temperate,  and  of  great 
humility. 

15.  He  appears,  from  his  actions,  however,  to  have 
been  plausible  and  subtle,  as  well  as  fluent  and  courteous ; 
his  humility  concealed  a  great  love  of  command  ;  he  was 
a  merciless  scourge  to  the  Indians,  and  in  his  dealings 
with  Columbus  he  was  both  ungenerous  and  unjust. 

16.  While  the  departure  of  Ovando  was  delayed  by 
various  circumstances,  every  arrival  brought  intelligence 
of  the  disastrous  state  o/  the  island,  under  the  adminis 
tration  of  Bobadilla.     The  latter  was  not  so  much  a  bad, 
as  an  imprudent  and  a  weak  man.     Imagining  rigorous 
rule  to  be  the  rock  on  which  his  predecessors  had  split, 
he  had,  at  the  very  outset,  relaxed  the  reins  of  justice 
and  morality,  and,  of  course,  had  lost  all  command  over 
the  community. 

17.  One  dangerous  indulgence  called  for  another,  and 
each  was  ceded  in  its  turn.     He  sold  the  farms  and  es 
tates  of  the  crown  at  low  prices,  and  granted  universal 
permission  to  work  the  mines,  on  paying  only  an  eleventh 
of  the  produce  to  government. 

18.  To  prevent  any  diminution  in  the  revenues,  it  be 
came  necessary  to  increase  the  quantity  of  gold  collect 
ed.     He  enforced,  therefore,  the  regulations  by  which 
the  caciques  were  obliged  to  furnish  parties  of  their  sub 
jects  to  \vork  for  the  Spaniards  in  the  field  and  in  the 
mine.     To  carry  these  into  more  complete  effect,  he 
made  an  enumeration  of  the  natives  of  the  island,  reduced 
them  into  classes,  and  distributed  them,  according  to  his 
favour  or  caprice,  among  the  colonists. 

19.  His  constant  exhortation  to  the  Spaniards  was,  to 


OF   COLUMBUS.  151 

produce  large  quantities  of  gold.  "  Make  the  most  of 
your  time,"  he  would  say,  "  there  is  no  knowing  how 
long  it  will  last ;"  alluding  to  the  possibility  of  his  being 
speedily  recalled.  The  colonists  acted  up  to  his  advice, 
and  so  hard  did  they  drive  the  poor  natives,  that  the 
eleventh  yielded  more  revenue  than  had  fiver  been  pro 
duced  by  the  third,  under  the  government  of  Columbus. 

20.  In  the  mean  time,  the  unhappy  Indians  sunk  under 
the  toils  imposed  upon  them,  arid  the  severities  by  which 
they  were  enforced.    A  capricious  tyranny  was  exercised 
over  them  by  worthless  men,  numbers  of  whom  had  been 
transported  convicts  from  the  dungeons  of  Castile.  These 
wretches  assumed  the  tone  of  grand  cavaliers,  and  in 
sisted  upon  being  attended  by  trains  of  servants :  they 
took  the  daughters  and  female  relatives  of  caciques  for 
their  servants  or  their  concubines. 

21.  In  travelling,  they  obliged  the  natives  to  transport 
them  on  their  shoulders  in  litters  or  hammocks,  while 
others  held  umbrellas  of  palm  leaves  over  their  heads, 
and  cooled  them  with  fans  of  feathers.     Sometimes  the 
backs  and  shoulders  of  the  unfortunate  Indians  who  bore 
the  litters  were  raw  and  bleeding  from  the  task. 

22.  When  these  arrogant  upstarts  arrived  at  an  Indian 
village,  they  capriciously  seized  upon  and  lavished  the 
provisions  of  the  inhabitants,  and  obliged  the  cacique 
and  his  subjects  to  dance  for  their  amusement.     They 
never  addressed  the  natives  but  in  the  most  degrading 
terms ;  and  for  the  least  offence,  or  in  a  mere  freak  of 
ill  humour,  they  would  inflict  blows  and  lashes,  and  even 
death  itself. 

23.  The  tidings  of  these  abuses,  and  of  the  wrongs  of 
the  natives,  grieved  the  spirit  of  Isabella,  and  induced 
her  to  urge  the  departure  of  Ovando.     He  was  empow 
ered  to  assume  the  command  immediately  on  his  arrival, 
and  to  send  home  Bobadilla  by  the  return  of  the  fleet. 
Hispaniola  was  to  be  the  metropolis  of  the  colonial  gov 
ernment,  which  was  to  extend  over  the  islands  and 
Terra  Firma. 

24.  Ovando  was  to  correct  the  late  abases,  to  revoke 
the  improper  licenses  granted  by  Bobadilla,  to  lighten 
the  burdens  imposed  upon  the  Indians,  and  to  promote 


162  LIFE   AND  VOYAGES 

their  religious  instruction.  He  was,  at  the  same  time, 
to  ascertain  the  injury  sustained  by  Columbus  in  his  late 
arrest  and  imprisonment,  and  the  arrears  of  revenue  that 
were  due  to  him,  that  he  might  receive  ample  redress 
and  compensation.  The  admiral  was  allowed  a  resident 
agent  in  the  island,  to  attend  to  his  affairs,  to  which  office 
he  immediately  appointed  Alonzo  Sanchez  de  Carvajal. 

25.  Among  various  decrees  on  this  occasion,  we  find 
the  first  trace  of  negro  slavery  in  the  new  world.  Permis 
sion  was  given  to  transport  to  the  colony  negro  slaves  born 
in  Spain,  the  children  and  descendants  of  natives  brought 
from  Guinea,  where  the  slave  trade  had  for  some  tune 
been  carried  on  by  the  Spaniards  and  Portuguese. 

26.  The  fleet  appointed  to  convey  Ovando  to  his  go 
vernment,  was  the  largest  that  had  yet  sailed  to  Ihe  new 
world,  consisting  of  thirty  sail,  of  various  sizes,  provided 
with  all  kinds  of  supplies  for  the  colony.     Twenty-five 
hundred  souls  embarked,  many  of  them  persons  of  rank, 
with  their  families. 

27.  Ovando  was  allowed  a  brilliant  retinue,  a  body 
guard  of  horsemen,  and  the  use  of  silks,  brocades,  and 

Erecious  stones,  at  that  time  forbidden  by  the  sumptuary 
LWS  of  Spam.     Such  was  the  style  in  which  a  favourite 
of  Ferdinand,  a  native  subject  of  rank,  was  fitted  out  to 
enter  upon  the  government  withheld  from  Columbus. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Propositions  of  Columbus  for  a  Crusade.    His  prepara 
tions  for  a  fourth  Voyage.  [1500—1501.] 

1.  COLUMBUS  remained  in  the  city  of  Granada  up 
wards  of  nine  months,  endeavouring  to  retrieve  his  af 
fairs  from  the  confusion  into  which  they  had  been  thrown. 
During  this  period,  he  called  to  mind  'his  vow  to  furnish, 
within  seven  years  from  the  time  of  his  discovery  of  the 
new  world,  an  army  of  fifty  thousand  foot  and  five  thou 
sand  horse,  for  the  recovery  of  the  holy  sepulchre. 

2.  The  time  had  elapsed,  the  vow  remained  unfulfilled 


OF  COLUMBUS.  153 

and  the  expected  treasures  that  were  to  pay  the  army 
had  never  been  realized.  Destitute,  therefore,  of  the 
means  of  accomplishing  his  pious  purpose,  he  considered 
it  his  duty  to  incite  the  sovereigns  to  the  enterprise.  He 
set  to  work,  therefore,  with  his  accustomed  zeal,  to  pre 
pare  arguments  for  the  purpose. 

3.  Aided  by  a  Carthusian  friar,  he  collected  into  a 
manuscript  volume  all  the  passages  in  the  sacred  scrip 
tures  and  in  the  writings  of  the  fathers,  which  he  conceiv 
ed  to  contain  mystic  portents  and  prophecies  of  the  dis 
covery  of  the  new  world,  the  conversion  of  the  gentiles, 
and  the  recovery  of  the   holy  sepulchre ;  three  great 
events  which  he  considered  as  destined  to  succeed  each 
other,  and  to  be  accomplished  through  his  agency. 

4.  He  prepared,  at  the  same  time,  a  long  letter  to  the 
sovereigns,  written  with  his  usual  fervour  of  spirit  and 
simplicity  of  heart,  urging  them  to  set  on  foot  a  crusade 
for  the  conquest  of  Jerusalem.     It  is  a  singular  compo 
sition,  which  lays  open  the  visionary  part  of  his  charac 
ter,  and  shows  the  mystic  and  speculative  reading  with 
which  he  was  accustomed  to  nurture  his  solemn  and  soar 
ing  imagination. 

5.  At  length  his  thoughts  suddenly  returned,  with  re 
newed  ardour,  to  their  wonted  channels,  and  he  conceived 
a  leading  object  for  another  enterprise  of  discovery. 

6.  Vasco  de  Garna  had  recently  accomplished  the  long 
attempted  navigation  to  India  by  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
and  Pedro  Alvarez  Cabral,  following  in  his  track,  had 
returned  with  his  vessels  laden  with  the  precious  mer 
chandise  of  the  east.     The  riches  of  Calicut  were  now 
the  theme  of  every  tongue.     The  discoveries  of  the 
savage  regions  of  the  new  world  had  as  yet  brought  but 
little  revenue  to  Spain,  but  this  route  to  the  East  Indies 
was  pouring  in  immediate  wealth  upon  Portugal. 

7.  Columbus  was  roused  to  emulation,  and  trusted  he 
could  discover  a  route  to  those  oriental  regions  more  easy 
and  direct  than  that  of  Vasco  de  Gama.     According  to 
his  own  observations,  and  the  reports  of  other  navigators, 
the  coast  of  Terra  Firma  stretched  far  to  the  westward. 
The  southern  coast  of  Cuba,  which  he  considered  a  part 
of  the  Asiatic  continent,  stretched  onward  towards  'the 


154  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

same  point.     The  currents  of  the  Caribbean  sea  must 
pass  between  these  lands. 

8.  He  was  persuaded,  therefore,  that  a  strait  must  exist 
somewhere  thereabout,   opening   into  the  Indian  sea. 
The  situation  in  which  he  placed  his  conjectural  strait 
was  somewhere  about  what  is  at  present  calldd  the  Isth 
mus  of  Darien.     Could  he  but  discover  such  a  passage, 
and^thus  link  the  new  world  he  had  discovered  with  the 
opulent  oriental  countries  of  the  old,  he  felt  that  he 
should  make  a  magnificent  close  to  his  labours. 

9.  He  unfolded  his  plan  to  the  sovereigns,  and,  though 
it  met  with  some  opposition  on  the  part  of  certain  of  the 
royal  counsellors,  it  was  promptly  adopted,  and  he  was 
empowered  to  fit  out  an  armament  to  carry  it  into  effect. 
He  accordingly  departed  for  Seville  in  the  autumn,  to 
make  the  necessary  preparations ;  but  such  were  the 
delays  caused  by  the  artifices  of  Fonseca  and  his  agents, 
that  it  was  not  until  the  following  month  of  May  that  he 
was  able  to  put  to  sea. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Columbus  sails  on  his  fourth  Voyage.  Events  at  the 
Island  of  Hispaniola.  His  search  after  an  imaginary 
Strait.  [1502.] 

1.  AGE  was  rapidly  making  its  advances  upon  Colum 
bus,  when  he  undertook  his  fourth  voyage  of  discovery. 
He  was  now  about  sixty-six  years  old.     His  constitu 
tion,  originally  vigorous  in  the  extreme,  had  been  impair 
ed  by  hardships  in  every  clime,  and  by  the  mental  suf 
ferings  he  had  undergone. 

2.  His  intellectual  powers  alone  retained  their  wonted 
energy,  prompting  him,  at  a  period  of  life  when  most 
men  seek  repose,  to  sally  forth,  with  youthful  ardour,  on 
the  most  toilsome  and  adventurous  of  enterprises.     In 
this  arduous  voyage  he  was  accompanied  by  his  brother 
Don  Bartholomew,  who  commanded  one  of  the  vessels, 
and  by  his  son  Fernando,  then  in  his  fourteenth  year. 


OP   COLUMBUS.  155 

3.  Columbus  sailed  from  Cadiz  on  the  9th  of  May. 
His  squadron  consisted  of  four  caravels,  the  largest  of 
but  seventy  tons  burden,  the  smallest  of  fifty ;  the  crews 
amounted  in  all  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  men.     With 
this  little  armament,  and  these  slender  barks,  he  under 
took  the  search  after  a  strait,  which,  if  found,  must  con 
duct  him  into  the  most  remote  seas,  and  lead  to  a  com 
plete  circumnavigation  of  the  globe. 

4.  After  touching  at  the  Canaries,  he  had  a  prosperous 
voyage  to  the  Caribbee  islands,  arriving  on  the  15th  of 
June  at  Mantinino,  at  present  called  Martinique. '   One 
of  his  vessels  proving  a  dull  sailer,  he  bore  away  for  His- 
paniola,  to  exchange  it  for  one  of  the  fleet  which  had  re 
cently  taken  >ut  Ovando. 

5.  He  arrived  off  the  harbour  of  San  Domingo  at  an 
unpropitious  moment.     The  place  was  filled  with  the 
most  virulent  of  hi*  enemies.     The  fleet  which  had 
brought  out  Ovando  lay  in  the  harbour  ready  to  put  to 
sea,  and  was  to  take  out  Roldan,  and  many  of  his  late 
adherents,  some  of  whom  were  under  arrest,  and  to  be 
tried  in  Spain. 

6.  Bobadilla  was  to  embark  in  the  principal  ship,  on 
board  of  which  he  had  put  an  immense  amount  of  gold, 
collected  for  the  government  during  his  administration, 
and  which  he  confidently  expected  would  atone  for  all  his 
faults.     Among  the  presents  he  intended  for  the  sove 
reigns  was  one  mass  of  virgin  gold,  which  is  famous  in 
the  old  Spanish  chronicles.     It  was  said  to  weigh  three 
thousand  six  hundred  castillanos.     Large  quantities  of 
gold  had  also  been  shipped  by  the  followers  of  Roldan, 
and  other  adventurers ,  the  wealth  gained  by  the  suffer 
ings  of  the  unhappy  natives. 

7.  On  arriving  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  Columbus 
sent  an  officer  on  shore  to  explain  the  purpose  of  his  visit, 
and  request  permission  to  shelter  his  squadron  in  the 
river,  as  he  apprehended  an  approaching  storm.     His 
request  was  refused  by  Ovando. 

8.  He  then  sent  a  second  message,  entreating  that  the 
sailing  of  the  fleet  might  be  delayed,  as  there  were  in 
dubitable  signs  of  an  approaching  tempest.    This  request 
was  as  fruitless  as  the  preceding ;  the  weather,  to  an 


156  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

inexperienced  eye,  was  fair  and  tranquil,  and  the  warn- 
ing  of  the  admiral  was  treated  with  ridicule,  as  the  pre 
diction  of  a  false  prophet, 

9.  Columbus  retired  from  the  river,  indignant  at  being 
refused  shelter  in  the  very  island  which  he  had  discover 
ed.     Feeling  confident  that  a  storm  was  at  hand,  he  kept 
close  to  shore,  thinking  to  shelter  himself  in  some  wild 
bay  or  river  of  the  island. 

10.  In  the  mean  time,  the  fleet  of  Bobadilla  stood  out 
confidently  to  sea.     Within  two  days  the  predictions  of 
Columbus  were  verified.     One  of  the  tremendous  storms 
which  sweep  those  latitudes,  gathered  up  and  began  to 
blow.     The  little  squadron  of  Columbus  remained  for  a 
time  tolerably  well  sheltered  by  the  land ;  but  the  tem 
pest  increasing,  and  the  night  coming  on  with  unusual 
darkness,  the  ships  lost  sight  of  each  other,  and  were 
separated. 

11.  The  admiral  still  kept  close  to  the  shore,  and  sus 
tained  no  damage.     The  three  other  vessels  ran  out  for 
sea  room,  and  for  several  days  were  driven  about  at  the 
mercy  of  wind  and  wave,  fearful  each  moment  of  ship 
wreck,  and  giving  up  each  other  as  lost.     The  Adelan- 
tado,  who  commanded  the  worst  vessel  of  the  squadron, 
ran  the  most  imminent  hazard,  and  nothing  but  his  con 
summate  seamanship  enabled  him  to  keep  her  afloat. 
At  length,  after  various  vicissitudes,  they  all  arrived  safe 
at  Port  Hermoso,  to  the  west  of  San  Domingo. 

12.  A  different  fate  befell  the  other  armament.     The 
ship  on  board  of  which  were  Bobadilla,  Roldan,  and  a 
number  of  the  most  inveterate  enemies  of  Columbus,  was 
swallowed  up  with  all  its  crew,  and  with  the  celebrated 
mass  of  gold,  and  the  principal  part  of  the  ill-gotten  trea 
sure  gained  by  the  miseries  of  the  Indians.     Many  of 
the  other  ships  were  entirely  lost,  some  returned  to  San 
Domingo  in  shattered  condition,  and  only  one  was  en 
abled  to  continue  her  voyage  to  Spain. 

13.  That  one,  it  is  said,  was  the  weakest  of  the  fleet, 
and  had  on  board  of  it  four  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  the 
property  of  the  admiral,  remitted  to  Spain  by  his  agent. 

14.  Both  Fernando  Columbus  and  the  venerable  his 
torian  Las  Casas  looked  upon  this  event  as  one  of  those 


OP   COLUMBUS.  157 

awful  judgments  which  seem?  at  times,  to  deal  forth  tem 
poral  retribution.  They  notice  the  circumstance,  that, 
while  the  enemies  of  the  admiral  were  thus,  as  it  were 
before  his  eyes,  swallowed  up  in  the  raging  sea,  the  only 
ship  enabled  to  pursue  her  voyage,  was  the  frail  bark 
freighted  with  his  property. 

15.  Many  of  the  superstitious  seamen,  who,  from  the 
sagacity  displayed  by  Columbus,  in  judging  of  the  signs 
of  the  elements,  and  his  variety  of  scientific  knowledge, 
looked  upon  him  as  endowed  with  supernatural  powers, 
fancied  he  had  conjured  up  this  storm  by  magic  spells, 
for  the  destruction  of  his  enemies. 

16.  The  evils,  however,  in  this,  as  in  most  of  the  cases 
called  temporal  judgments,  overwhelmed  the  innocent 
with  the  guilty.     In  the  same  ship  with  Bobadilla  and 
Roldan,  perished  the  captive  Guarionex,  the  unfortunate 
cacique  of  the  vega. 

17.  After  repairing  the  damages  sustained  by  his  ships 
in  the  storm,  Columbus  steered  for  Terra  Firma,  and  on 
the  30th  July  arrived  at  the  island  of  Guanaga,  on  the 
coast  of  Honduras.     Here  he  met  with  a  canoe  of  im 
mense  size,  paddled  by  twenty-five  Indians,  on  board  of 
which  sat  a  cacique,  with  his  wives  and  children,  under 
an  awning  of  palm  leaves. 

18.  In  the  canoe  were  hatchets  and  other  utensils  of 
copper,  with  a  kind  of  crucible  for  the  melting  of  that 
metal ;  various  vessels  neatly  formed  of  clay,  marble,  and 
hard  wood ;  mantles  of  cotton,  worked  and  dyed  with 
various  colours  ;  and  many  other  articles  which  indicated 
u  superior  degree  of  art  and  civilization  than  had  hitherto 
been  discovered  in  the  new  world.     The  Indians  inform 
ed  the  admiral  that  they  had  come  from  a  rich,  cultiva 
ted,  and  industrious  country,  situated  to  the  west,  and 
urged  him  to  steer  in  that  direction. 

19.  Well  would  it  have  been  for  Columbus  had  he 
followed  their  advice.     Within  a  day  or  two  he  would 
have  arrived  at  Yucatan ;  the  discovery  of  Mexico,  and 
the  other  opulent  countries  of  New  Spain,  would  have 
necessarily  followed ;  the  Southern  Ocean  would  have 
been  disclosed  to.  him,  and  a  succession  of  splendid  dis 
coveries  would  have  shed  fresh  glory  on  his  declining 

14 


158  LIFE   AND   VOYAGES 

age,  instead  of  its  sinking  amidst  gloom,  neglect,  and 
disappointment. 

20.  The  admiral,  however,  was  intent  upon  discover 
ing  the  supposed  strait  that  was  to  lead  him  to  the  Indian 
Ocean.    He  stood,  therefore,  southwardly  for  some  moun 
tains  which  he  descried  not  many  leagues  distant,  and 
made  Cape  Honduras,  and  from  thence  proceeded  east- 
wardly,  beating  against  contrary  winds,  and  struggling 
with  the  currents  which  sweep  that  coast. 

21.  There  was  an  almost  incessant  tempest,  with  heavy 
rain  and  awful  thunder  and  lightning.     His  vessels  were 
strained  so  that  their  seams  opened  ;  the  sails  and  rig 
ging  were  rent,  and  the  provisions  damaged  by  the  rain 
and  the  leakage.     The  sailors  were  exhausted  with  fa 
tigue,  and  harassed  with  terror.    Several  times  they  con 
fessed  their  sins  to  each  other,  and  prepared  for  death. 

22.  During  a  great  part  of  this  time,  Columbus  suffer 
ed  extremely  from  the  gout,  and  his  complaint  was  ag 
gravated  by  watchfulness  and  anxiety,  so  that  at  tunes 
he  thought  his  end  approaching.     His  illness  did  not 
prevent  his  attending  to  his  duties  ;  he  had  a  small  cabin 
or  round  house  constructed  on  the  stern,  from  whence, 
even  when  confined  to  his  bed,  he  could  keep  a  look  out, 
and  regulate  the  sailing  of  the  ships* 

23.  At  length,  after  struggling  for  upwards  of  forty 
days  to  make  a  distance  of  about  seventy  leagues,  he  ar 
rived,  on  the  14th  of  September,  at  a  cape  where  the 
coast  made  a  sudden  bend,  and  turned  directly  south. 
Doubling  this  cape,  he  had  immediately  an  easy  wind, 
and  swept  off  with  flowing  sail,  in  conseqjuence  of  which 
he  gave  it  the  name  of  Gracias  a  Dtos,  or  Thanks  to  God. 

24.  For  three  weeks  he  continued  coasting  what  is  at 
present  called  the  Mosquito  shore,  in  the  course  of  which 
a  boat  with  its  crew  was  swallowed  up  by  the  sudden 
swelling  of  a  river.     He  had  occasional  interviews  with 
the  natives,  but  a.  mutual  distrust  prevailed  between  them 
and  the  Spaniards. 

25.  The  Indians  were  frightened  a.t  seeing  a  notary 
of  the  fleet  take  out  pen,  ink,  and  paper,  and  proceed 
to  write  down  the  information  they  were  communicating ; 
they  supposed  he  was  working  some  magic  spell,  and  to 


OF   COLUMBUS.  159 

counteract  it,  they  scattered  a  fragrant  powder  in  the 
air,  and  burnt  it  so  that  the  smoke  should  be  borne  to 
wards  the  Spaniards. 

26.  The  superstitious  seamen  looked  upon  these  coun 
ter  charms  with  equal   distrust.     They  suspected  the 
people  of  this  coast  to  be  great  enchanters,  and  that  all 
the  delays  and  hardships  they  had  experienced  were  in 
consequence  of  the  ships  bein.g  under  some  spell,  wrought 
by  magic  art.  Even  Columbus,  and  his  son  and  historian 
Fernando,  appear  to  have  been  tinctured  with  this  super- 
stition,  which  indeed  is  characteristic  of  the  age. 

27.  On  the  5th  of  October,  Columbus  arrived  at  what 
is  at  present  called  Costa  Rica  (or  the  Rich  Coast.)  He 
began  to  find  ornaments  of  pure  gold  among  the  natives. 
These  increased  in  quantity  when  he  came  to  what  has 
since  been  called  the  coast  of  Veragua,  where  he  was 
assured  that  the  richest  mines  were  to  be  found. 

28.  In  sailing  along  these  coasts,  he  received  repeated 
accounts  of  a  great  kingdom  in  the  west,  where  he  under 
stood  the  Indians  to  say,  there  were  seaports  and  ships 
armed  with  cannon  ;  where  gold  was  so  plenty,  that  the 
inhabitants   embroidered  their  garments  and  embossed 
their  furniture  with  it ;  beside  wearing  it  in  coronets, 
bracelets,  and  anklets  ;  and  where  they  were  armed  with 
swords,  bucklers,  and  cuirasses,  and  were  mounted  on 
horses,  like  the  Spaniards. 

29.  These  were  evidently  rumours  of  the  distant  king 
dom  of  Mexico,  imperfectly  interpreted  to  Columbus,  and 
shaped  and  coloured  by  his  imagination.     He  concluded 
that  this  country  must  be  some  province  belonging  to  the 
Grand  Khan,   and  must  lie  on  the  opposite  side  of  a 
peninsula,  and  that  he  would  soon  arrive  at  a  strait  lead 
ing  into  the  Indian  Sea  which  washed  its  shores. 

30.  With  these  erroneous  ideas,  Columbus  continued 
to  press  forward  in  search  of  the  imaginary  strait,  con 
tending  with  adverse  winds  and  currents,  and  meeting 
with  great  hostility  from  the  natives  ;  for  the  Indians  of 
these  coasts  were  fierce  and  warlike,  and  many  of  the 
tribes  are  supposed  to  have  been  of  Carib  origin.     At 
sight  of  the  ships,  the  forests  would  resound  with  yells 
and  war  whoops,  with  wooden  drums,  and  the  blast  of 


160  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

conchs,  and  on  landing,  the  shores  would  be  lined  with 
warriors  armed  with  clubs,  and  lances,  and  swords  of 
palm  wood. 

31.  At  length,  having  discovered  and  named  Porto 
Bello,  and  continued  beyond  Cape  Npmbre  de  Dios,  Co 
lumbus  arrived  at  a  small  and  narrow  harbour,  to  which 
he  gave  the  name  of  El  Retrete,  or  The  Cabinet.     Here 
he  was  induced  to  give  up  all  further  attempt  to  find  the 
strait.     His  ships  were  pierced  in  all  parts  by  the  worms, 
and   his  seamen   disheartened   by  adverse  winds  and 
currents. 

32.  They  considered  themselves  still  under  an  evil 
spell  worked  by  the  Indian  sorcerers,  and  the  comman 
ders  remonstrated  against  forcing  their  way  any  farther, 
with  ships  so  crazed  and  leaky.     Columbus  yielded  to 
their  solicitations,  and  determined  to  return  to  the  coast 
of  Veragua,  and  search  for  the  mines  which  were  said 
to  abound  there. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

Return  to  the    Coast  of  Veragua.     Contests  with  the 
Natives.  [1502.] 

1.  ON  the  5th  of  December,  Columbus  returned  west 
ward  in  search  of  the  gold  mines  of  Veragua.     He  had 
not  proceeded  far,  when  the  wind  became  so  variable  and 
furious  as  to  baffle  all  seamanship.     For  nine  days  the 
vessels  were  tossed  about,  at  the  mercy  of  a  raging  tem 
pest.     The  sea  boiled  at  times  like  a  cauldron  ;  at  other 
times  it  ran  in  mountain  waves,  covered  with  foam. 

2.  For  a  day  and  night  the  heavens  glowed  like  a  fur 
nace,  with  incessant  flashes  of  lightning  ;  while  the  loud 
claps  of  thunder  were  often  mistaken  by  the  mariners 
for  signal  guns  of  distress  from  their  foundering  com 
panions.  During  the  whole  time  there  was  such  a  deluge 
of  rain,  that  the  seamen  were  almost  drowned  in  their 
open  vessels. 

3.  In  the  midst  of  this  wild  tumult  of  the  elements,  the 


OP   COLUMBUS.  i61 

ocean  in  one  place  became  strangely  agitated.  The  wa 
ter  was  whirled  up  into  a  kind  of  pyramid,  or  cone,  while 
a  livid  cloud,  tapering-  to  a  point,  bent  down  to  meet  it. 
Joining  together,  they  formed  a  column,  which  rapidly 
approached  the  ships,  spinning  along  the  surface  of 
the  deep,  and  drawing  up  the  waters  with  a  rushing 
sound. 

4.  The  affrighted  mariners  despaired  of  averting  the 
danger  by  human  means,  and  began  to  repeat  certain 
passages  from  St.  John  the  Evangelist.    The  waterspout 
passed  dose  by  their  ships  without  injuring  them,  and 
they  attributed  their  escape  to  the  miraculous  efficacy  of 
their  quotations  from  the  scriptures. 

5.  An  interval  of  calm  succeeded,  but  the  tempest-tost 
mariners  looked  upon  it  as  deceitful,  and  beheld  with 
alarm  great  numbers  of  sharks,  roaming  about  the  ships. 
Among  the  superstitions  of  the  seas  is  the  belief  that 
these  voracious  fish  have  not  only  the  faculty  of  smelling 
dead  bodies  at  a  distance,  but  keep  about  vessels  which 
have  sick  persons  on  board,  or  which  are  in  danger  of 
being  wrecked. 

6.  For  three  weeks  longer  they  continued  to  be  driven 
to  and  fro,  endeavouring  to  make  a  distance  of  merely 
thirty  leagues,  insomuch  that  Columbus  gave  this  line  of 
sea-board  the  name  of  The  Coast  of  Contradictions.* 
At  length,  to  his  great  joy,  he  arrived  on  the  day  of 
Epiphany  (the  6th  of  January)  en  the  coast  of  Veragua, 
and  anchored  in  a  river  to  which,  in  honour  of  the  day, 
he  gave  the  name  of  Belen  or  Bethlehem. 

7.  The  natives  of  the  neighbourhood  manifested  the 
same  fierce  and  warlike  character  that  generally  pre 
vailed  along  the  coast,  but  were  soon  conciliated.     The 
Adelantado,  with  a  band  of  men  well  armed,  explored 
the  surrounding  country,  and  particularly  the  neighbour 
hood  of  the  Veragua,  where  there  were  gold  mines. 

8.  Quibian  the  cacique  of  that  province,  was  a  stern 
warrior,  cautious  and  taciturn,  of  tall  and  powerful  frame. 
He  descended  with  a  numerous  train  from  his  village, 
which  was  situated  on  a  hill,  and  met  the  Adelantado  on 

*  La  costa  de  los  Contr astes. 

14* 


162  LIFE   AND  VOYAGES 

the  bank  of  the  river,  seating  himself  on  a  great  stone 
which  his  attendants  drew  out  of  the  stream.  Though 
jealous  of  the  intrusion  of  the  Spaniards,  he  received 
them  with  courtesy,  for  the  lofty,  vigorous,  and  iron  form 
of  the  Adelantado,  and  his  resolute  demeanour,  were 
calculated  to  inspire  awe  and  respect. 

9.  He  readily  furnished  Don  Bartholomew  with  guides, 
who  took  him  about  six  leagues  into  the  interior,  among 
magnificent  foresis,  where  the  soil  appeared  to  be  im 
pregnated  with  gold,  and  the  Spaniards  collected  a  con 
siderable  quantity  from  the  surface.     They  conducted 
him  also  to  a  high  hill,  commanding  a  vast  prospect,  and 
assured  him  that  the  whole  country,  for  twenty  days* 
journey  westward,  abounded  in  gold. 

10.  The  reports  brought  by  Don  Bartholomew  of  these 
golden  tracts,  and  the  rumours  of  a  rich  and  civilized 
kingdom  in  the  interior,  produced  a  new  illusion  in  the 
mind  of  Columbus.     He  fancied  that  he  had  actually  ar 
rived  at  the  Aurea  Chersonesus,  (or  golden  peninsula) 
of  the  ancients,  from  whence,  according  to  Josephus,  the 
gold  had  been  procured  for  the  building  of  the  temple  of 
Jerusalem. 

11.  Here  then,  the  admiral  determined  to  found  a 
colony,  which  he  trusted  would  become  the  emporium  of 
this  golden  region.     The  Adelantado  agreed  to  remain 
here  with  eighty  men,  while  the   admiral  returned  to 
Spain  for  reinforcements. 

12.  They  immediately  proceeded  to  carry  their  plan 
into  operation.     Houses  of  wood,  thatched  with  palm 
leaves,  were  erected  on  the  high  bank  of  a  creek,  about 
a  bow-shot  within  the  mouth  of  the  river  Belen.     A 
storehouse  was  built  to  receive  part  of  the  ammunition, 
artillery,  and  stores  ;  the  rest  was  put  on  board  of  one 
of  the  caravels,  which  was  to  be  left  for  the  use  of  the 
colony. 

13.  The  houses  being  sufficiently  finished  to  be  habi 
table,  the  admiral  prepared  for  his  departure,  but  the 
river  had  subsided  to  such  a  degree  that  there  was  not 
above  half  a  fathom  of  water  on  the  bar.     Though  his 
vessels  were  small,  it  was  impossible  to  draw  them  over 
the  sands  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  on  account  of  a  heavy 


OF   COLUMBUS.  163 

surf.    He  was  obliged,  therefore,  to  wait  until  the  rains 
should  again  swell  the  river. 

14.  In  the  mean  time,  one  Diego  Mendez,  chief  notary 
of  the  armament,  a  man  of  zeal  and  spirit,  and  of  a 
shrewd  prying  character,  and  zealously  devoted  to  the 
admiral,  suspected  from  some  movements  among  the 
Indians,  a  hostile  design  on  the  part  of  the  cacique  of 
Veragua.      Accompanied   by  a  single   companion,  he 
penetrated  as  a  spy  to  the  very  residence  of  Quibian, 
which  was  situated  on  the  crest  of  a  hill,  and  surrounded 
by  three  hundred  heads,  on  stakes ;  dismal  trophies  of 
enemies  vanquished  in  battle. 

15.  The  cacique  was  suffering  from  a  wound  in  the 
leg  by  an  arrow.     Mendez  showed  a  box  of  ointment,  and 
pretended  to  have  come  to  cure  him,  but  found  it  impos 
sible  to  gain  admittance.     He  saw  enough,  however,  to 
convince  him  that  an  attack  was  about  to  be  carried  into 
effect,  and  that  it  was  merely  delayed  by  the  wound  of 
the  cacique  ;  he  hastened  back,  therefore,  to  Columbus 
with  the  intelligence. 

16.  An  Indian  interpreter  corroborated  the  report  of 
Mendez.     He  informed  the  admiral  that  Quibian  intend 
ed  to  come  secretly  at  the  dead  of  the  night,  with  all  his 
warriors,  to  set  fire  to  the  ships  and  houses,  and  massacre 
the  Spaniards. 

17.  The  Adelantado  immediately  determined  upon  a 
counterplot.     Taking  with  him  seventy-four  men,  well 
armed,  he  ascended  the  Veragua  in  boats,  and  landed  in 
the  night  at  the  village  of  the  cacique.     Lest  Quibian 
should  take  the  alarm  and  fly,  he  ascended  to  his  house, 
accompanied  only  by  Diego  Mendez,  and  four  other  men, 
ordering  the  rest,  at  the  discharge  of  an  arquebus  to  rush 
up  and  surround  the  house. 

18.  The  cacique,  hearing  of  his  approach,  came  forth, 
and  seating  himself  in  the  portal,  desired  him  to  advance 
singly.      Don  Bartholomew  complied,  ordering  Diego 
Mendez  and  his  four  companions  to  remain  at  a  little 
distance,  but  to  rush  to  his  aid  at  a  concerted  signal. 
He  addressed  the  cacique  by  means  of  an  interpreter, 
inquired  about  his  wound,  and,  pretending  to  examine  it, 
took  him  by  the  arm. 


164  LIFE   AND   VOYAGES 

19.  This  was  the  signal,  at  which  four  of  the  Span- 
lards  rushed  forward,  the  fifth  discharged  the  arquebus. 
A  violent  struggle  ensued  between  Don  Bartholomew 
and  the  cacique,  who  were  both  men  of  great  muscular 
force  ;  but,  with  the  assistance  of  Diego  Mendez  and  his 
companions,  Quibian  was  overpowered,  and  bound  hand 
and  foot. 

20.  In  the  mean  time,  the  main  body  of  the  Spaniards 
surrounded  the  house,  and  captured  the  wives  and  chil 
dren  of  the  cacique,  and  several  of  his  principal  subjects. 
The  prisoners  were  sent  off  to  the  ships,  while  the  Ade- 
lantado,  with  a  part  of  his  men,  remained  on  shore  to 
pursue  the  Indians  who  had  escaped. 

21.  The  cacique  was  given  in  charge  to  Juan  Sanchez, 
the  principal  pilot  of  the  squadron,  a  sturdy  and  powerful 
seaman.     He  was  cautioned  to  be  on  his  guard,  as  the 
cacique  was  crafty  and  vigorous.     "  If  he  escapes  from 
my  clutches,"  replied  Juan  Sanchez,  vauntingly,  "  I  will 
give  you  leave  to  pluck  out  my  beard,  hair  by  hair." 

22.  On  arriving  at  the  boat,  he  tied  his  prisoner  by  a 
strong  cord  to  one  of  the  benches.     As  they  proceeded 
down  the^river,  Quibian  complained  of  the  painfulness  of 
his  bonds.     Sanchez  loosened  the  cord,  therefore,  from 
the  bench,  but  kept  the  end  of  it  in  his  hand.     The  wily 
Indian  watched  his  opportunity,  and. plunged  suddenly 
into  the  water,  and  the  pilot  ha'd  to  let  go  the  cord,  lest 
he  should  be  drawn  in  after  him. 

23.  The  darkness  of  the  night,  and  the  bustle  which 
took  place  in  preventing  the  escape  of  the  other  prison 
ers,  rendered  it  impossible  to  pursue  the  cacique,  or  even 
to  ascertain  his  fate.     Juan  Sanchez  hastened  to  the 
ships  with  the  residue  of  tne  captives,  deeply  mortified 
at  being  thss  outwitted  by  a  savage. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

Disasters  of  the  Settlement.  [1503.] 

1.  SATISFIED  that  the  vigorous  measure  of  the  Ade- 
lantado  had  struck  terror  into  the  Indians,  and  crushed 


OF    COLUMBUS. 


165 


their  hostile  designs,  Columbus  took  advantage  of  a  swell 
ing  of  the  river,  to  pass  the  bar  with  three  of  his  caravels, 
leaving  the  fourth  for  the  use  of  the  settlement.  He  then 
anchored  within  a  league  of  the  shore,  until  a  favourable 
wind  should  spring  up  for  Hispaniola. 

2.  The  cacique  Quibian  had  not  perished  in  the  river, 
as  some  had  supposed,    Plunging  to  the  bottom,  he  swam 
for  some  distance  below  the  surface,  and  then  emerging 
escaped  to  the  shore.     His  home,  however,  was  deso 
late  ;  and  to  complete  his  despair,  he  saw  the  vessels 
standing  out  to  sea,  bearing  away  his  wives  and  children 
captives. 

3.  Furious  for  revenge,  he  gathered  together  a.  great 
number  of  his  warriors,  and  assailed  the  settlement  when 
the  Spaniards  were  scattered  and  off  their  guard.     The 
Indians  launched  their  javelins  through  the  roofs  of  the 
houses,  which  were  of  palm  leaves,  or  hurjed  them  in  at 
the  windows,  or  thrust  them  between  the  logs  which 
composed  the  walls,and  wounded  several  of  the  Spaniards. 

4.  On  the  first  alarm,  the  Adelantado  seized  a  lance, 
and  sallied  forth  with  seven  or  eight  of  his  men ;  Diego 
Mendez  brought  several  others  to  his  assistance.     They 
had  a  short  skirmish  ;  one  Spaniard  was  killed,  and  eight 
wounded ;  the  Adelantado  received  a  thrust  in  the  breast 
with  a  javelin  ;  but  they  succeeded  in  repulsing  the  In 
dians,  with  considerable  loss,  and  driving  them  into  the 
forest. 

5.  During  the  skirmish,  a  boat  came  on  shore  from  the 
ships,  to  procure -wood  and  water.     It  was  commanded 
by  Diego  Tristan,  a  captain  of  one  of  the  caravels.    When 
the  Indians  were  put  to  flight,  the  boat  ascended  about  a 
league  above  the  village,  to  a  part  of  the  river  oversha 
dowed  by  lofty  banks  and  spreading  trees.     Suddenly 
the  forest  resounded  with  yells  and  war-whoops,  and  the 
blasts  of  conchs.     A  shower  of  missiles  was  rained  from 
the  shores,  and  canoes  darted  out  from  creeks  and  coves, 
filled  with  warriors,  brandishing  their  weapons.     The 
Spaniards,  losing  all  presence  of  mind,  neglected  to  use 
their  firearms,   and  only  sought  to  shelter  themselves 
with  their  bucklers. 

6.  The  captain,  Diego  Tristan,  though  covered  with 


166  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

wounds,  endeavoured  to  animate  his  men,  when  a  javelin 
pierced  his  right  eye,  and  struck  him  dead.  The  canoes 
now  closed  upon  the  boat,  and  massacred  the  crew. 
One  Spaniard  alone  escaped,  who,  having  fallen  over 
board,  dived  to  the  bottom,  swam  mider  water,  and  es 
caped  unperceived  to  shore,  bearing  tidings  of  the  mas 
sacre  to  the  settlement. 

7.  The  Spaniards  were  so  alarmed  at  the  dangers 
thickening  around  them,  that,  notwithstanding  the  re 
monstrances  of  the  Adelantado,  they  determined  to  em 
bark  in  the  caravel,  and  abandon  the  place  altogether. 
On  making  the  attempt,  however,  they  found  that,  the 
torrents  having  subsided,  the  river  was  again  shallow,  and 
it  was  impossible  for  the  caravel  to  pass  over  the  bar. 

8.  A  high  sea  and  boisterous  surf  also  prevented  their 
sending  off  a  boat  to  the  admiral,  with  intelligence  of 
their  danger.     While  thus  cut  off  from  all  retreat  or 
succour,  horrors  increased  upon  them.     The  mangled 
bodies  of  Diego  Tristan  and  his  men  came  floating  down 
the  stream,  and  drifted  about  the  harbour,  with  flights  of 
crows  and  other  carrion  birds  feeding  on  them,  and  hover 
ing,  and  screaming,  and  fighting  about  their  prey. 

9.  In  the  mean  time,  the  dismal  sound  of  conchs  and 
war  drums  was  heard  in  the  surrounding  forests,  showing 
that  the  enemy  was  augmenting  in  number,  and  preparing 
for  further  hostilities.     The  Adelantado  deemed  it  unsafe 
to  remain  in  the  village,  which  was  adjacent  to  the  woods. 
He  chose  an  open  place  on  the  shore,  where  he  caused 
a  kind  of  bulwark  to  be  made  of  the  boat  of  the  caravel, 
and  of  casks  and  sea  chests.     Two  places  were  left  open 
as  embrasures,  in  which  were  mounted  a  couple  of  fal 
conets,  or  small  pieces  of  artillery. 

10.  In  this  little  fortress  the  Spaniards  shut  themselves 
up,  and  kept  the  Indians  at  a  distance  by  the  terror  of 
their  firearms ;  but  they  were  exhausted  by  watching 
and  by  incessant  alarms,  and  looked  forward  with  de 
spondency  to  the  time  when  their  ammunition  would  be 
exhausted,  or  they  should  be  driven  forth  by  hunger  to 
seek  for  food. 

11.  While  the  Spaniards  were  exposed  to  such  immi 
nent  peril  on  shore,  great  anxiety  prevailed  on  board  of 


OP    COLUMBUS.  167 

the  ships.  Day  after  day  elapsed  without  the  return  of 
Diego  Tristan  and  his  party,  and  it  was  feared  that  some 
disaster  had  befallen  them.  But  one  boat  remained  for 
the  service  of  the  ships,  and  they  dared  not  risk  it,  in  the 
rough  sea,  and  heavy  surf,  to  send  it  on  shore  for  in 
telligence. 

12.  A  circumstance  occurred  to  increase  their  anxiety. 
The  Indian  prisoners  were  confined  in  the  forecastle  of 
one  of  the  caravels.     In  the  night  they  suddenly  burst 
open  the  hatch,  and  several  flung  themselves  into  the  sea 
and   swam  to  the  shore  ;  the  rest  were  secured  and 
forced  back  into  the  forecastle,  but  such  was  their  un 
conquerable  spirit  and  their  despair,  that  they  hanged  or 
strangled  themselves  with  cords,   which  lay  about  in 
their  prison,  and  in  the  morning  were  all  found  dead. 

13.  The  admiral  feared  that  those  who  had  got  to 
shore  would  stimulate  their  countrymen  to  vengeance. 
Still  it  was  impossible  to  send  a  boat  on  shore.  At  length 
one  Pedro  Ledesma,  a  man  of  great  strength  and  reso* 
lution,  being  taken  in  the  boat  to  the  edge  of  the  surf, 
plunged  into  the  sea,  swam  to  shore,  and  brought  off  in 
telligence  of  all  the  disasters  that  had  happened. 

14.  He  found  the  Spaniards  preparing  canoes  to  take 
them  to  the  ships  when  the  weather  should  moderate. 
They  threatened  that,  if  the  admiral  refused  to  take  them 
on  board,  they  would  embark  in  the  remaining  caravel, 
as  soon  as  it  could  be  extricated  from  the  river,  and  would 
abandon  themselves  to  the  mercy  of  the  seas,  rather  than 
continue  on  that  fatal  coast. 

15.  The  admiral  was  deeply  afflicted  at  what  had  hap 
pened.     There  appeared  no  alternative  but  to  embark 
all  the  people,  abandon  the  settlement  for  the  present, 
and  return  at  a  future  day,  with  a  force  competent  to 
take  secure  possession  of  the  country.     The  high  wind 
and  boisterous  waves  still  prevented  communication,  and 
the  situation  of  those  at  sea,  in  crazy  and  feebly  manned 
ships,  on  a  lee-shore,  was  scarcely  less  perilous  than 
that  of  their  comrades  on  the  land. " 

16.  Every  hour  increased  the  anxiety  of  the  admiral. 
Days  of  constant  perturbation,  and  nights  of  sleepless 
anguish,  preyed  upon  a  constitution  broken  by  age  and 


168  LIFE   AND   VOYAGES 

hardships.  Amid  the  acute  maladies  of  the  body,  and 
the  fever  of  the  mind,  he  appears  to  have  been  visited  by 
partial  delirium. 

17.  In  the  silence  of  the  night,  when,  wearied  and 
sighing,  he  had  fallen  into  a  slumber,  he  thought  he  heard 
a  voice  reproaching  him.     "  Oh  fool,  and  slow  to  believe 
thy  God  !"  exclaimed  the  voice,  "  what  did  he  more  for 
Moses,  or  for  his  servant  David  1  From  the  time  that  thou 
wert  born  he  has  ever  taken  care  of  thee.     When  he 
saw  thee  of  a  fitting  age,  he  made  thy  name  to  resound 
marvellously  throughout  the  world. 

18.  "  The  Indies,  those  rich  parts  of  the  earth,  he  gave 
thee  for  thine  own,  and  empowered  thee  to  dispose  of 
them  to  others  according  to  thy  pleasure.     He  delivered 
thee  the  keys  of  the  gates  of  the  ocean  sea,  shut  up  by 
such  mighty  chains,  and  thou  wert  obeyed  in  many  lands, 
and  didst  acquire  honourable  fame  among  Christians. 

19.  "  Thou  dost  call  despondingly  for  succour.     An 
swer  ;  who  has  afflicted  thee  1    God,  or  the  world  ]    The 
privileges  and  promises  which  God  has  made  thee,  he  has 
never  broken.     He  fulfils  all  that  he  promises,  and  with 
increase.     Thy  present  troubles  are  the  reward  of  the 
toils  and  perils  thou  hast  endured  in  serving  others." 
Amidst  its  reproaches  the  voice  mingled  promises  of 
further  protection,  and  assurances  that  his  age  should  be 
no  impediment  to  any  great  undertaking. 

20.  Such  is  the  vision  which  Columbus  circumstan 
tially  relates  in  a  letter  to  the  sovereigns.     He  had  a 
solemn  belief  that  he  was  a  peculiar  instrument  in  the 
hands  of  Providence,  which,  together  with  a  deep  tinge  of 
of  superstition,  common  to  the  age,  made  him  prone  to 
mistake  every  striking  dream   for  a  revelation.     The 
words  here  spoken  by  a  supposed  voice,  are  truths  which 
dwelt  upon  his  mind,  and  agitated  his  spirit  in  his  waking 
hours ;  it  was  natural,  therefore,  that  they  should  recur 
vividly  in  his  feverish  dreams. 

21.  Immediately  after  the  supposed  vision,  and  after 
nine  days  of  boisterous  weather,  the  wind  subsided,  the 
sea  became  calm,  the  Adelantado  and  his  companions 
were  rescued  from  their  perilous  situation,  arid  embarked 
on  board  of  the  ships.  Every  thing  of  value  was  likewise 


OF   COLUMBUS.  169 

brought  on  board,  and  nothing  remained  but  the  hull  of 
the  caravel,  which  could  not  be  extricated  from  the  river. 
Diego  Mendez  was  extremely  efficient  in  bringing  oif  the 
people  and  the  property  ;  and,  in  reward  of  his  zeal  and 
services,  the  admiral  gave  him  the  command  of  the  cara 
vel  vacant  by  the  death  of  the  unfortunate  Diego  Tristan. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

Voyage  to  Jamaica.  Transactions  at  that  Island.  [1503.] 

1.  TOWARDS  the  end  of  April,  Columbus  set  sail  from 
the  disastrous  coast  of  Veragua.     Continuing  along  the 
coast  eastward,  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  one  of  the 
caravels  in  the  harbour  of  Porto  Bello,  being  so  pierced 
by  the  worms  that  it  was  impossible  to  keep  her  afloat. 
He  then  proceeded  about  ten  leagues  beyond  Point  Bias, 
near  to  what  is  at  present  called  the  gulf  of  Darien. 
Here  he  bade  farewell  to  the  main  land,  and  stood  north 
ward,  on  the  first  of  May,  in  quest  of  Hispaniola. 

2.  Notwithstanding  all  his  precautions,  he  was  carried 
so  far  west  by  the  currents,  as  to  arrive,  on  the  30th  of 
May,  among  the  cluster  of  islands  called  the  Queen's 
Gardens,  on  the  south  side  of  Cuba.     During  this  time, 
his  crews  suffered  excessively  from  hunger  and  fatigue. 

1  They  were  crowded  into  two  caravels,  little  better  than 
mere  wrecks,  and  which  were  scarcely  kept  afloat  by 
incessant  labour  at  the  pump.  .,*;, 

3.  A  violent  storm  on  the  coast  of  Cuba  drove  the 
vessels  upon  each  other,  and  shattered  them  to  such  a 
degree,  that  the  admiral  gave  up  all  further  attempt  to 
navigate  them  to  Hispaniola,  and  stood  over,  in  search  of 
a  secure  port,  to  the  island  of  Jamaica.     Here,  on  the 
24th  of  June,  he  anchored  in  a  harbour,  to  which  he  gave 
the  name  of  Port  San  Gloria. 

4.  Seeisg  that  his  ships  were  no  longer  sea-worthy, 
and  were  in  danger  of  foundering  even  in  port,  Colum 
bus  ran  them  aground,  within  bowshot  of  the  shore,  where 
they  were  fastened  together  side  by  side.     They  soon 

16 


170  LIFE   AND   VOYAGES 

filled  with  water.  Thatched  cabins  were  then  erected 
at  the  prow  and  stern  to  shelter  the  crews,  and  the  wreck 
was  placed  in  the  best  possible  state  of  defence. 

5.  No   one  was   permitted  to  go  on  shore  without 
especial  license,  and  the  utmost  precaution  was  taken  to 
prevent  any  offence  being  given  to  the  Indians,  who 
soon  swarmed  to  the  harbour  with  provisions,  as  any  ex 
asperation  of  them  might  be  fatal  to  the  Spaniards  in 
their  present  forlorn  situation.     Two  persons  were  ap 
pointed  to  superintend  all  bargains,  arid  the  provisions 
thus  obtained  were  divided  every  evening  among  the 
people. 

6.  As  the  immediate  neighbourhood,  however,  might 
soon  be  exhausted,  the  zealous  and  intrepid  Diego  Men- 
dez  made  a  tour  in  the  interior,  accompanied  by  three 
men,  and  made  arrangements  for  the  caciques  at  a  dis 
tance  to  furnish  daily  supplies  at  the  harbour,  in  exchange 
for  European  trinkets.     He  returned  in  a  canoe  which 
he  had  purchased  from  the  Indians,  and  which  he  had 
freighted  with  provisions,  and  through  his  able  arrange 
ment  the  Spaniards  were  regularly  supplied. 

7.  The  immediate  wants  of  his  people  being  thus  pro 
vided  for,  Columbus  revolved  in  his  anxious  mind  the 
means  of  getting  from  this  island.     His  ships  were  be 
yond  the  possibility  of  repair,  and  there  was  no  hope  of 
a  chance  sail  arriving  to  his  relief,  on  the  shores  of  a 
savage  island,  in  an  unfrequented  sea.  At  length,  a  mode 
of  relief  occurred  to  him,  through  the   means   of  this 
same  Diego  Mendez  whose  courage  and  loyalty  he  had 
so  often  proved.     He  took  him  aside  to  sound  him  on  the 
subject,  and  Mendez  himself  has  written  an  account  of 
this  interesting  conversation,  which  is  full  of  character. 

8.  "  Diego  Mendez,  my  son,"  said  the  venerable  admi* 
ral,  "  of  all  those  who  are  here,  you  and  I  alone  know  the 
great  peril  in  which  we  are  placed.     We  are  few  in 
number,  and  these  savage  Indians  are  many,  and  of  fickle 
and  irritable  natures.     On  the  least* provocation  they 
may  throw  firebrands  from  the  shore,  and  consume  us  in 
our  straw-thatched  cabins. 

9.  «*  The  arrangement  which  you  have  made  for  pro 
visions,  and  which  at  present  they  fulfil  so  cheerfully, 


OP   COLUMBUS.  171 

they  may  capriciously  break  to-morrow,  and  may  refuse 
to  bring  us  any  thing ;  nor  have  we  the  means  of  com 
pelling  them.  I  have  thought  of  a  remedy,  if  it  meets 
your  views.  In  this  canoe  which  you  have  purchased, 
some  one  may  pass  over  to  Hispanic-la,  and  procure  a 
ship,  by  which  we  shall  all  be  delivered  from  this  great 
peril.  Tell  me  your  opinion  on  the  matter." 

10.  «  Senior,"  replied  Diego  Mendez, "  I  well  know  our 
danger  to  be  far  greater  than  is  easily  conceived ;  but  as 
to  passing  to  Hispaniola  in  so  small  a  vessel  as  a  canoe, 
I  hold  it  not  merely  difficult,  but  impossible,  since  it  is 
necessary  to  traverse  a  gulf  of  forty  leagues,  and  between 
islands  where  the  sea  is  impetuous  arid  seldom  in  repose. 
I  know  not  who  there  is  would  venture  upon  so  extreme 
a  peril." 

11.  Columbus  made  no  reply  ;  but  from  his  looks,  and 
the  nature  of  his  silence,  Mendez  plainly  perceived  him 
self  to  be  the  person  whom  the  admiral  had  in  view.    Re 
suming,  therefore,  the  conversation,  "  Senior,"  said  he, 
"  I  have  many  times  put  my  life  in  peril  to  save  you  and 
my  comrades,  arid  God  has  hitherto  preserved  me  in  a 
miraculous  manner.     There  are,  nevertheless,  murmur- 
ers,  who  say  that  your  Excellency  intrusts  to  me  every 
affair  wherein  honour  is  to  be  gained,  while  there  are 
others  in  company  who  would  execute  them  as  well  as  I. 
I  beg,  therefore,  that  you  would  assemble  the  people,  and 
propose  this  enterprise,  to  see  if  any  one  will  undertake 
it,  which  I  doubt.     If  all  decline,  I  will  then  come  for 
ward  and  risk  my  life  in  your  service,  as  I  have  many 
times  done  already." 

12.  The  admiral  willingly  humoured  the  wishes  of  the 
worthy  Mendez.     On  the  following  morning  tfie  crew 
was  assembled,  and  the  proposition  made.     Every  one 
drew  back,  pronouncing  it  the  height  of  rashness.    Upon 
this  Diego  Mendez  stepped  forward.    "  Senior,"  said  he, 
"  I  have  but  one  life  to  lose,  yet  I  am  willing  to  venture 
it  for  your  service,  and  for  the  £oad  of  all  here  present ; 
and  I  trust  in  the  protection  of  God,  which  I  have  expe 
rienced  on  so  many  other  occasions." 

13.  Columbus  embraced  this  zealous  follower,  who  im 
mediately  set  about  preparing  for  the  expedition.    Draw- 


172  LIFE   AND   VOYAGES 

ing  his  canoe  on  shore,  he  put  on  a  false  keel,  and  nailed 
weather-boards  along  the  bow  and  stern,  to  prevent  the 
sea  from  breaking  over  it.  He  then  payed  it  with  a  coat 
of  tar,  furnished  it  with  a  mast  and  sail,  and  put  in  pro 
visions  for  himself,  a  Spanish  comrade,  and  six  Indians. 

14.  In  the  mean  while,  Columbus  wrote  a  letter  to  Ovan- 
do,  governor  of  Hispaniola,  begging  that  a  ship  might  im 
mediately  be  sent  to  bring  him  and  his  men  to  Hispanio 
la  ;  and  he  wrote  another  to  the  sovereigns,  entreating  for 
a  ship  to  convey  them  from  Hispaniola  to  Spain. 

15.  In  this  letter  he  gave  a  comprehensive  account  of 
his  voyage,  and  expressed  his  opinion  that  Veragua  was 
the  Aurea  Chersonesus  of  the  ancients.     He  supposed 
himself  to  have  reached  the  confines  of  the  dominions  of 
the  Grand  Khan,  and  offered,  if  he  lived  to  return  to  Spain, 
to  conduct  a  mission  thither  to  instruct  that  potentate  in 
the  Christian  faith. 

16.  What  an  instance  of  soaring  enthusiasm  and  irre 
pressible  enterprise  is  here  exhibited  !    At  the  time  he 
was  indulging  these  visions,  and  proposing  new  and  ro 
mantic  enterprises,  he  was  broken  down  by  age  and  in 
firmities,  racked  by  pain,  confined  to  his  bed,  and  shut  up 
in  a  wreck  on  the  coast  of  a  remote  and  savage  island. 

17.  The  despatches  being-  ready,  Diego  Mendez  em 
barked  with  his  Spanish  comrade  and  his  six  Indians, 
and  coasted  the  island  eastward.    Their  voyage  was  toil 
some  and  perilous.     When  arrived  at  the  end  of  the 
island,  they  were  suddenly  surrounded  and  taken  prison 
ers  by  the  Indians,  who  carried  them  three  leagues  into 
the  interior,  where  they  determined  to  kill  them. 

18.  A  dispute  arising  about  the  division  of  the  spoils, 
they  agreed  to  settle  it,  after  the  Indian  fashion,  by  a 
game  of  ball.     While  thus  engaged,  Diego  Mendez  es 
caped,  regained  his  canoe,  and  made  his  way  back  to  the 
harbour  in  it,  alone,  after  fifteen  days'  absence. 

19.  Nothing  daunted  by  the  perils  and  hardships  he 
had  undergone,  he  offered  to  depart  immediately  on  a 
second  attempt,  provided  he  could  be  escorted  to  the  end 
of  the  island  by  an  armed  force.     His  offer  was  acc-ept- 
ed,  and  Bartholomew  Fiesco,  a  Genoese,  who  had  com 
manded  one  of  the  caravels,  and  was  strongly  attached 


OP   COLUMBUS.  .  173 

to  the  admiral,  was  associated  with  him  in  this  second 
expedition. 

20.  Each  had  a  canoe,  with  six  Spaniards  and  ten  In 
dians  under  his  command.      On  reaching  Hispaniola, 
Fiesco  was  to  return  immediately  to  Jamaica,  to  bring 
tidings  to  the  admiral  of  the  safe  arrival  of  his  messen 
ger  ;  while  Diego  Mendez  was  to  proceed  to  San  Do 
mingo,  and,  after  purchasing  and  despatching  a  ship,  was 
to  depart  for  Spain  with  the  letter  to  the  sovereigns. 

21.  All  arrangements  being  made,  the  Indians  placed 
in  the  canoes  a  supply  of  cassava  bread,  and  each  his 
calabash  of  water.     The  Spaniards,  beside  their  provi 
sions,  had  each  his  sword  and  target.     The  Adelantado, 
with  an  armed  band,  kept  pace  with  them  along  the 
coast,  until  they  reached  the  end  of  the  island,  where, 
waiting  for  three  days  until  the  weather  was  perfectly 
serene,  they  launched  forth  on  the  broad  bosom  of  the 
sea.   The  Adelantado  remained  watching  them  until  they 
became  mere  specks  on  the  ocean,  arid  the  evening  hid 
them  from  his  vi-ew,  and  then  returned  to  the  harbour. 


CHAPTER  XL1. 

Mutiny  of  Porras.     Eclipse  of  the  Moon.     Stratagem  of 
Columbus  to  procure  supplies  from  the  Indians.  [1503.] 

1.  DAY  after  day,  and  week  after  week,  did  the  poor 
Spaniards  keep  a  wistful  look  out  upon  the  sea,  for  the 
expected  return  of  Fiesco,  flattering  themselves  that 
every  canoe,  gliding  at  a  distance,  might  be  the  harbin 
ger  of  deliverance. 

2.  Months  elapsed,  however,  without  his  arrival,  and 
they  began  to  fear  that  he  and  Mendez  had  perish- 
ed.     Enfeebled  by  past  sufferings,  present  confinement, 
and  low  diet,  they  became  extremely  sickly  ;  and  their 
maladies  were  heightened  by  anxiety   and  suspense. 
Some  gradually  sank  into  despondency  ;  others  became 
peevish  and  impatient,  and,  in  their  unreasonable  heat, 
railed  at  their  venerable  and  infirm  commander  as  the 
cause  of  all  their  misfortunes. 

15* 


174  LIFE   AND  VOYAGES 

•  a 

3.  Among  the  officers  of  Columbus  were  two  brothers, 
Francisco  and  Diego  Porras ;  the  first  a  captain  of  a 
caravel,  the  other,  notary  and  accountant  general  of  the 
expedition.     They  were  vain  and  insolent  men,  who  had 
been  appointed  by  Columbus  to  gratify  their  relative,  the 
royal  treasurer  Morales.     Like  many  others  whom  the 
admiral  had  benefited,  they  requited  his  kindness  with 
the  blackest  ingratitude. 

4.  Mingling  with  the  people,  they  assured  them  that 
Columbus  had  no  intention  of  returning  to  Spain,  having 
in  reality  been  banished  thence  by  the  sovereigns.    His- 
paniola,  they  said,  was  equally  closed  against  him,  and  it 
was  his  design  to  remain  in  Jamaica,  until  his  friends 
could  make  interest  at  court  to  procure  his  recall.     By 
these  and  other  insidious  suggestions,  thSy  gradually 
prepared  the  people  for  revolt. 

5.  On  the  2d  of  January,  Francisco  Porras  suddenly 
entered  the  cabin  where  Columbus  was  confined  to  his 
bed  by  the  gout,  reproached  him  vehemently  with  keep 
ing  them  in  that  desolate  place  to  perish,  and  accused 
him  of  having  no  intention  to  return  to  Spain.     The  ad 
miral  raised  himself  in  bed,  and,  maintaining  his  calm 
ness,  endeavoured  to  reason  with  the  traitor ;  but  Porras 
was  deaf  to  all  argument.     "  Embark  immediately,  or 
remain,  in  God's  name  !"  cried  he,  with  a  voice  that  re 
sounded  all  over  the  wreck.     "  For  my  part,  I  am  for 
Castile  !  those  who  choose  may  follow  me  !" 

6.  This  was  the  signal.    "For  Castile  !  for  Castile  !" 
was  heard  on  every  side.     The  mutineers  sprang  up  on 
the  most  conspicuous  parts  of  the  vessel,  brandishing  their 
weapons,  and  amidst  the  uproar  the  voices  of  some  des 
peradoes  were  heard  menacing  the  life  of  the  admiral. 

7.  Columbus  leaped  out  of  bed,  and  tottered  forth  to 
pacify  the  mutineers,  but  was  forced  back  into  his  cabin 
by  some  of  his  faithful  adherents.     The  Adelantado  sal 
lied  forth  lance  in  hand,  and  planted  himself  in  a  situa 
tion  to  take  the  whole  brunt  of  the  assault.     It  was  with 
the  greatest  difficujty  that  several  of  the  loyal  part  of  the 
crew  could  restrain  his  fury,  and  prevail  upon  him  to  re 
linquish  his  weapon,  and  retire  to  the  cabin  of  his  brother. 

8.  The  mutineers,  being  entirely  unopposed,  took  ten 


OF   COLUMBUS.  175 

canoes,  which  the  admiral  had  purchased  from  the  In 
dians  ;  others,  who  had  not  been  concerned  in  the  mutiny, 
joined  them,  through  fear  of  remaining  behind,  when  so 
reduced  in  number  :  in  this  way  forty-eight  abandoned 
the  admiral.  Many  of  the  sick  crawled  forth  from  their 
cabins,  and  beheld  their  departure  with  tears  and  lamen 
tations,  and  would  gladly  have  accompanied  them,  had 
their  strength  permitted. 

9.  Porras  coasted  with  his  squadron  of  canoes  to  the 
eastward,  landing  occasionally  and  robbing  the  natives, 
pretending  to  act  under  the  authority  of  Columbus,  that 
he  might  draw  on  him  their  hostility.     Arrived  at  the 
east  end  of  the  island,  he  procured  several  Indians  to 
manage  the  canoes,  and  then  set  out  on  his  voyage  across 
the  gulf. 

10.  The  Spaniards  had  scarcely  proceeded  four  leagues, 
when  the  wind  came  ahead,  with  a  swell  of  the  sea,  that 
threatened  to  overwhelm  the  deeply  laden  canoes.  They 
immediately  turned  for  land,  and  in  their  alarm  threw 
overboard  the  greater  part  of  their  effects. 

11.  The   danger  still  continuing,   they   drew  their 
swords,  and  compelled  most  of  the  Indians  to  leap  into 
the  sea.     The  latter  were  skilful  swimmers,  but  the  dis 
tance  to  land  was  too  great  for  their  strength  ;  if  however 
they  at  any  time  took  hold  of  the  canoes  to  rest  them 
selves  and  recover  breath,  the  Spaniards,  fearful  of  their 
overturning  the  slight  barks,  would  stab  them  or  cut  oif 
their  hands.     Some  were  thus  slain  by  the  sword,  others 
sank  exhausted  benea.th  the  waves ;  eighteen  perished 
miserably,  and  none  survived  but  a  few  who  had  been 
retained  to  manage  the  canoes. 

12.  Having  reached  the  shore  in  safety,  Porras  and 
his  men  waited  until  the  weather  became  favourable,  and 
then  made  another  effort  to  cross  to  Hispaniola,  but  with 
no  better  success.     They  then  abandoned  the  attempt  in 
despair,  and  returned  westward,  roving  from  village  to 
village,  and  living  upon  the  provisions  of  the  Indians, 
which  they  took  by  force  if  not  readily  given.     If  the  na 
tives  remonstrated,  they  told  them  to  seek  redress  at  the 
hands  of  the   admiral,  whom,   at  the  same  time,  they 
represented  as  the  implacable  foe  of  the  Indian  race, 


176  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

and  bent  upon  gaining  a  tyrannical  sway  over  their 
island. 

13.  In  the  mean  time,  Columbus,  left  in  the  wreck  with 
a  mere  handful  of  srck  and  desponding   men,  exerted 
himself  to  the  utmost  to  restore  them  to   health  and 
spirits.      He  ordered   that  the   small  stock  of  biscuit 
which  remained,  and  the  most  nourishing  provisions  fur 
nished  by  the  Indians,  should  be  appropriated  to  the  in 
valids  :  he  visited  them  individually,  cheered  them  with 
hopes  of  speedy  deliverance,  and  promised  that  on  his 
return  to  Spain  he  would  intercede  with  the  sovereigns, 
that  their  loyalty  might  be  munificently  rewarded.     In 
this  way,  by  kind  and  careful  treatment  and  encouraging 
words,  he  succeeded  in  rendering  them  once  more  fit  for 
service. 

14.  Scarcely,  however,  had  the  little  garrison  recover 
ed  from  the  shock  of  the  mutiny,  when  it  was  menaced 
by  a  new  and  appalling  evil.     The  Indians  grew  negli 
gent  in  furnishing  provisions.     The  European  trinkets, 
once  so  inestimable  in  their  eyes,  had  sunk  in  value,  by 
becoming  common.     Many  of  the  caciques  were  incensed 
by  the  conduct  of  Porras  and  his  followers,  which  they 
supposed  justified  by  the  admiral  ;  others  were  secretly 
instigated  by  the  rebels  to  withhold  supplies,  in  hopes  of 
starving  Columbus  and  his  people,  or  of  driving  them 
from  the  island. 

15.  The  horrors  of  famine  began  to  threaten,  when  a 
fortunate  idea  presented  itself  to  Columbus.     From  his 
knowledge  of  astronomy,  he  ascertained  that  within  three 
days  then*  would  be  a  total  eclipse  of  the  moon,  in  the 
early  pan  of  the  night.     He  summoned,  therefore,  the 
principal  caciques  to  a  grand  conference,  appointing  for 
it  the  day  of  the  eclipse. 

16.  When  all  were  assembled,  he  told  them  by  his  in 
terpreter,  that  he  and  his  followers  were  worshippers  of 
a  Deity  who  lived  in  the  skies  ;  that  this  great  Deity 
was  incensed  against  the  Indians  for  neglecting  to  fur 
nish  his  faithful  worshippers  with  provisions,  and  intend 
ed  to  chastise  them  with  famine  and  pestilence.     Lest 
they  should  disbelieve  this  warning,  a  signal  would  be 
given  that  very  night  in  the  heavens.     They  would  be- 


The  Eclipse  of  the  Moon. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  177 

hold  the  moon  change  its  colour,  and  gradually  losb  its 
light.;  a  token  of  the  fearful  punishment  which  awaited 
them. 

17.  Many  of  the  Indians  were  alarmed  at  the  predic 
tion,  others  treated  it  with  derision  ;  all,  however,  await 
ed  with  solicitude  the  coming  of  the  night.     When  they 
beheld  a  black  shadow  stealing  over  the  moon,  and  a 
gloom  covering  the  face  of  nature,  they  were  seized  with 
the  utmost  consternation.     Hurrying  with  provisions  to 
the  ships,  and  throwing  themselves  at  the  feet  of  Colum 
bus,  they  implored  him  to  intercede  with  his  God  to  with 
hold  the  threatened  calamities,  assuring  him  that  thence 
forth  they  would  bring  him  whatever  he  required. 

18.  Columbus  retired  to  his  cabin,  under  pretence  of 
communing  with  the  Deity,  the  forests  and  shores  all  the 
while  resounding  with  the  bowlings  of  the  savages.    He 
returned  shortly,  and  informed  them  that  the  Deity  had 
deigned  to  pardon  them,  on  condition  of  their  fulfilling 
their  promises,  in  sign  of  which  he  would  withdraw  the 
darkness  from  the  moon. 

19.  When  the  Indians  saw  that  planet  restored  pre 
sently  to  its  brightness,  and   rolling  in  all  its  beauty 
through  the  firmament,  they  overwhelmed  the  admiral 
with  thanks  for  his  intercession.     They  now  regarded 
him  with  awe  and  reverence,  as  one  enjoying  the  pecu 
liar  favour  and  confidence  of  the  Deity,  since  he  knew 
upon  earth  what  was  passing  in  the  heavens.     They 
hastened  to  propitiate  him  with  gifts  ;  supplies  again  ar 
rived  daily  at  the  harbour,  and  from  that  time  forward 
there  was  no  want  of  provisions. 


CHAPTER  XLIL 

Arrival  of  Diego  de  Escobar  at  the  Harbour.    Battle,  with 
the  Rebels.  [1504.] 

1.  EIGHT  months  had  now  elapsed  since  the  depar 
ture  of  Mendez  and  Fiesco,  yet  no  tidings  had  been  re 
ceived  of  their  fate.  The  hopes  of  the  most  sanguine 


178  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

were  nearly  extinct,  and  many,  considering  themselves 
abandoned  and  forgotten  by  the  world,  grew  wild  and 
desperate.  Another  conspiracy  was  on  the  point  of 
breaking  out,  when  one  evening,  towards  dusk,  a  small 
caravel  was  seen  off  the  harbour. 

2.  It  keot  out  at  sea,  and  sent  its  boat  on  shore.     In 
this  came  Diego  de  Escobar,  one  of  the  late  confederates 
of  Roldan,  who  had  been  condemned  to  death  under  the 
administration  of  Columbus,  and  pardoned  by  Bobadilla. 
There  was  bad  omen  in  such  a  messenger. 

3.  Escobar  was  the  bearer  of  a  letter  from  Ovando,  ac 
companied  by  a  barrel  of  wine  and  a  side  of  bacon.    The 
governor  expressed  great  concern  at  the  misfortunes  of 
the  admiral,  and  regret  at  not  having  in  port  a  vessel  of 
sufficient  size  to  bring  off  himself  and  people,  but  pro 
mised  to  send  one  as  soon  as  possible. 

4.  Escobar  drew  oft'  with  the  boat,  and  kept  at  a  dis 
tance  awaiting  the  admiral's  reply,  and  holding  no  con 
versation  with  any  of  the  Spaniards.     Columbus  wrote 
to  Ovando,  depicting  the  horrors  of  his  situation,  and 
urging  the  promised  relief.     As  soon  as  Escobar  receiv 
ed  this  letter,  he  returned  on  board  of  his  caravel,  which 
made  all  sail,  and  disappeared  in  the  gathering  gloom  of 
the  night. 

5.  The  mysterious  conduct  of  Escobar  caused  surprise 
and  uneasiness  among  the  people,  but  Columbus  cheered 
them  wTith  assurances  that  ships  would  soon  be  sent  to 
take  them  away.     He  was  secretly,  however,  indignant 
at  the  conduct  of  Ovando,  believing  that  he  had  purpose 
ly  delayed  sending  relief,  in  the  hopes  that  he  would 
perish  on  the  island,  and  that  Escobar  was  a  spy,  sent 
to  ascertain  whether  he  and  his  crew  were  yet  in  ex 
istence.  , 

6.  Still  he  endeavoured  to  turn  the  event  to  advan 
tage,  and  sent  two  of  his  people  to  inform  the  rebels 
of  the  promised  relief,  and  offer  them  a  free  pardon,  and 
a  passage  to  Hispaniola,  on  condition  of  their  immediate 
return  to  obedience. 

7.  Porras  received  the  messengers  apart  from  his  men, 
and  accompanied  solely  by  a  few  of  the  ringleaders.    He 
treated  the  generous  offer  of  Columbus  with  insolence^ 


OP   COLUMBUS.  179 

demanding,  as  terms  of  peace,  that  one  half  of  the  ac 
commodation  of  the  shipping  that  should  arrive  should 
be  assigned  to  his  party ;  and  that,  in  the  mean  time,  the 
admiral  should  share  with  them  the  sea  stores  and  goods 
which  remained  in  his  possession.  When  these  demands 
were  objected  to,  he  replied  that,  if  not  peaceably  con- 
ceded,  they  would  be  taken  by  force  ;  and  with  this  me 
nace  he  dismissed  the  messengers. 

8.  Finding  that  his  men  were  moved  by  the  offer  of 
pardon  and  deliverance,  he  assured  them  these  offers 
were  mere  artifices  of  Columbus,  to  get  them  into  his 
power.     That  the  pretended  caravel  was  a  phantasm 
conjured  up  by  the  admiral,  who  was  deeply  versed  in 
magic.     In  proof  of  this,  he  adverted  to  its  mysterious 
movements,  arriving  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  holding 
communication  with  no  one  but  Columbus,  and  suddenly 
disappearing  in  the  night. 

9.  "Had  it  been  a  real  caravel,"  said  he,  "the  crew 
would  have  sought  to  converse  with  their  countrymen ; 
the  admiral,  his  son,  and  brother  would  have  embarked 
on  board ;  at  any  rate,  it  would  have  remained  a  little 
while  in  port,  and  not  have  vanished  so  suddenly  and 
mysteriously." 

10.  Having  by  these  and  similar  delusions  encoiu 
raged  them  to  persist  in  their  rebellion,  he   inarched 
them  one  day  towards  the  harbour,  to  seize  upon  the 
stores  remaining  in  the  wreck,  and  to  get  the  admiral 
in  his  power. 

11.  Columbus  heard  of  their  approach,  but  being  con 
fined  by  his  infirmities,  sent  Don  Bartholomew  to  reason 
with  them,  and  endeavour  to  win  them  to  obedience. 
The  Adelantado,  who  was  generally  a  man  rather  of 
deeds  than  words,  took  with  him  fifty  men  well  armed. 
Arriving  near  the  rebels,  he  sent  messengers  to  treat  with 
them  ;  but  Porras  forbade  them  to  approach. 

12.  The  latter  cheered  his  followers  by  pointing,  with 
derision,  to  the  pale  countenances  of  their  opponents,  who 
were  emaciated  by  recent  sickness  and  long  confinement 
in  the  wreck  ;  whereas  his  men,  for  the  most  part,  were 
hardy  sailors,  rendered  robust  by  living  in  the  open  air. 
He  assured  them  the  followers  of  the  Adelantado  were 


180  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

mere  household  men,  fair  weather  troops,  who  could  never 
stand  before  them. 

13.  He  did  not  reflect,  that  with  such  men  pride  and 
spirit  often  more  than  supply  the  place  of  bodily  force, 
and  that  his  adversaries  had  the  incalculable  advantage 
of  justice  and  law  upon  their  side. 

14.  Deluded  by  his  words  into  a  transient  glow  of  cou 
rage,  the  rebels  did  not  wait  to  be  attacked,  but  rushed 
with  shouts  upon  the  enemy.     Six  of  them  had  made  a 
league  to  assault  the  Adelantodo,  but  were  so  weh1  receiv 
ed  that  he  laid  several  of  them  dead  at  his  feet,  among 
whom  was  Juan  Sanchez,  the  same  powerful  mariner 
who  had  carried  off  the  cacique  Quibian. 

15.  In  the  midst  of  the  affray,  the  Adelantado  was  as 
sailed  by  Francisco  de  Porras,  who,  with  a  blow  of  his 
sword,  cleft  his  buckler,  and  wounded  the  hand  which 
grasped  it.     The  sword  remained  wedged  in  the  shield, 
and  before  it  could  be  withdrawn,  the  Adelantado  closed 
upon  Porras,  grappled  him,  and,  being  assisted  by  others, 
succeeded  in  taking  him  prisoner. 

10.  The  rebels,  seeing  their  leader  a  captive,  fled  in 
confusion,  but  were  not  pursued,  through  fear  of  an  attack 
from  the  Indians,  who  had  remained  drawn  up  in  battle 
array,  gazing  with  astonishment  at  this  fight  between 
white  men,  but  without  offering  to  aid  either  party.  The 
Adelantado  returned  in  triumph  to  the  wreck,  with  Por 
ras  and  several  other  prisoners.  Only  two  of  his  own 
men  had  been  wounded,  one  of  whom  died. 

17.  On  the  following  day,  the  rebels  sent  a  letter  to 
the  admiral,  signed  with  all  their  names,  confessing  their 
misdeeds,  imploring  pardon,  and  making  a  solemn  oath 
of  obedience  ;  imprecating  the  most  awful  curses  on  their 
hea-ds  should  they  break  it.  The  admiral  saw,  by  the  ab 
ject  nature  of  the  letter,  how  completely  the  spirit  of 
these  misguided  men  was  broken ;  with  his  wonted  mag 
nanimity  he  pardoned  thoir  offences,  merely  retaining 
their  ringleader,  Francisco  Porras,  a  prisoner,  to  be  tried 
in  Spain  for  his  misdeeds. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  181 

CHAPTER  XLIII. 

Voyage  of  Diego  Mendez  to  Hispaniola.     Deliverance  of 
Columbus  from  the  Island  of  Jamaica.  [1504.] 

1.  IT  is  proper  here  to  give  some  account  of  the  mis 
sion  of  Diego  Mendez  and  Bartholomew  Fiesco.    When 
they  had  taken  leave  of  the  Adelantado  at  the  east  end 
of  the  island  of  Jamaica,  they  continued  all  day  in  a  di 
rect  course ;  there  was  no  wind,  the  sky  was  without  a 
cloud,  and  the  sea  like  a  mirror  reflecting  the  burning 
rays  of  the  sun.     The  Indians  who  paddled  the  canoes 
would  often  leap  into  the  water  to  cool  their  glowing 
bodies,  and  refresh  themselves  from  their  toil. 

2.  At  the  going  down  of  the  sun  they  lost  sight  of 
land.     During  the  night  the  Indians  took  turns,  one  half 
to  row  while  the  others  slept.     The  Spaniards,  in  like 
manner,  divided  their  forces ;  wliile  some  took  repose, 
the  others  sat  with  their  weapons  in  their  hands,  ready 
to  defend  themselves  in  case  of  any  perfidy  on  the  part 
of  their  savage  companions. 

3.  Watching  and  toiling  in  this  way  through  the  night, 
they  were  excessively  fatigued  on  the  following  day,  and 
began  to  experience  the  torments  of  thirst,  for  the  In 
dians,  parched  with  heat,  had  already  drained  the  con 
tents  of  their  calabashes.     In  proportion  as  the  sun  rose, 
their  misery  increased,  and  was  irritated  by  the  prospect 
around  them — nothing  but  water,  while  they  were  perish 
ing  with  thirst. 

4.  About  midday,  when  their  strength  was  failing 
them,  the  commanders  produced  two  small  kegs  of  wa 
ter,  which  they  had  reserved  in  secret  for  such  an  extre 
mity.     Administering  a  cooling  mouthful  occasionally, 
they  enabled  the  Indians  to  resume  their  toils.     They 
held  out  the  hopes  of  soon  arriving  at  a  small  island* 
called  Navasa,  which  lay  directly  in  their  way,,  about 
eight  leagues  distant  from  Hispaniola.    Here  they  would 
find  water  to  assuage  their  thirst,  and  would  be  able  to 
take  repose. 

5.  The  night  closed  upon  them  without  any  eight  ot 

16 


182  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

the  island ;  tney  feared  that  they  had  deviated  from  their 
course ;  if  so,  they  should  miss  the  island  entirely,  and 
perish  with  thirst  before  they  could  reach  Hispaniola. 
One  of  the  Indians  died  of  the  accumulated  sufferings  of 
labour,  heat,  and  raging  thirst ;  others  lay  panting  and 
gasping  at  the  bottom  of  the  canoes.  Their  companions 
were  scarcely  able  to  continue  their  toils.  Sometimes 
they  endeavoured  to  cool  their  parched  palates  by  taking 
sea  water  in  their  mouths,  but  its  briny  bitterness  only 
increased  their  thirst.  One  after  another  gave  up,  an cl 
it  seemed  impossible  that  they  should  live  to  reach  His 
paniola. 

6.  The  commanders,  by  admirable  management,  had 
hitherto  kept  up  this  weary  struggle  with  suffering  and 
despair ;  but  they  too  began  to  despond.     Diego  Mendez 
sat  watching  the  horizon,  which  was  gradually  lighting 
up  with  those  faint  rays  which  precede  the  rising  of  the 
moon.     As  that  planet  arose,  he  perceived  it  to  emerge 
from  behind  a  dark  mass,  which  proved  to  be  the  island 
of  Navasa,  but  so  low,  and  small,  and  distant,  that,  had 
it  not  been  thus  revealed  by  the  rising  moon,  he  would 
never  have  discovered  it.      He  immediately  gave  the 
animating  cry  of  "land."     His  almost  expiring  com 
panions  were  roused  to  new  life,  and  exerted  themselves 
with  feverish  impatience. 

7.  By  dawn  of  day  they  sprang  on  shore,  and  returned 
thanks  to  God  for  their  deliverance.     The  island  was  a 
mere  barren  mass  of  rocks,  but  they  found  abundance  of 
rain  water  in  hollow  places.     The  Spaniards  exercised 
some  degree  of  caution  in  their  draughts  ;  but  the  poor 
Indians,  \\  hose  toils  had  increased   t  he  fever  of  their 
thirst,  gavM  way  to  a  kind  of  frantic   indulgence,  of 
which  several  died  upon  the  spot,  and  others  fell  dan 
gerously  ill. 

8.  After  reposing  all  day  on  the  island,  and  feasting 
upon  shell-fish  gathered  along  the  shore,  they  set  off  in 
the  evening  for  Hispaniola,  the  mountains  of  which  were 
distinctly  visible,  and  arrived  at  Cape  Tiburon  on  the 
following  day,  the  fourth  since  their  departure  from  Ja 
maica.     Fiesco  would  now  have  returned  to  give  the 
admiral  assurance  of  the  safe  ai  rival  of  his  messenger, 


OF   COLUMBUS.  183 

but  both  Spaniards  and  Indians  refused  to  encounter  the 
perils  of  another  voyage  in  the  canoes. 

9.  Parting  with  his  companions,  Diego  Mendez  took 
six  Indians  of  the  island,  and  set  off  for  San  Domingo. 
After  proceeding  for  eighty  leagues  against  the  currents, 
he  was  informed  that  the  governor  had  departed  for  Xa- 
ragua,  fifty  leagues  distant.     Still  undaunted  by  fatigues 
and  difficulties,  he  abandoned  the  canoe,  and  proceeded 
alone,  on  foot,  through  forests  and  over  mountains,  until 
he  arrived  at  Xaragua,  achieving  one  of  the  most  perilous 
expeditions  ever  undertaken  by  a  devoted  follower  for 
the  safety  of  his  commander. 

10.  He  found  Ovando  completely  engrossed  by  wars 
with  the  natives.     The  governor  expressed  great  con 
cern  at  the  unfortunate  situation  of  Columbus,  and  pro- 
mised  to  send  him  immediate  relief;  but  Mendez  remain 
ed  for  seven  months  at  Xaragua,  vainly  urging  for  that 
relief,  or  for  permission  to  go  to  San  Domingo  in  quest 
of  it.     The  constant  excuse  of  Ovando  was,  that  there 
were  not  ships  of  sufficient  burden  in  the  island  to  bring 
off  Columbus  and  his  men. 

11.  At  length,  by  daily  importunity,  Mendez  obtained 
permission  to  go  to  San  Domingo,  and  await  the  arrival 
of  certain  ships  which  were  expected.     He  immediately 
set  out  on  foot ;  the  distance  was  seventy  leagues,  and 
part  of  his  toilsome  journey  lay  through  forests  and  moun 
tains,  infested  by  hostile  and  exasperated  Indians.     Im 
mediately  after  his  departure,  Ovando  despatched  from 
Xaragua  the  pardoned  rebel,  Escobar,  on  that  reconnoi 
tring  visit  which  caused  so  much  wonder  and  suspicion 
among  the  companions  of  Columbus. 

12.  If  the  governor  had  really  entertained  hopes  that, 
during  the  delay  of  relief  Columbus  might  perish  in  the 
island,  the  report  brought  back  by  Escobar  must  have 
completely  disappointed  him.     No  time  was  now  to  be 
lost,  if  he  wished  to  claim  any  merit  in  his  deliverance, 
or  to  avoid  the  disgrace  of  having  totally  neglected 
him.     His   long  delay  had  already  roused  the  public 
indignation,   insomuch   that  animadversions  had   been 
made  upon  his   conduct  even  in  the  pulpits.      Diego 
Mendez,  also,  had  hired  and  victualled  a  vessel  at  the 


184  LIFE    AND    VOYA.GE8 

expense  of  Columbus,  and  was  on  the  point  of  despatch 
ing  it. 

13.  The  governor,  therefore,  exerted  himself,  at  the 
eleventh  hour,  and  fitted  out  a  caravel,  which  he  put  un 
der  the  command  of  Diego  de  Salcedo,  the  agent  em 
ployed  by  Columbus  to  collect  his  rents  in  San  Domingo. 
These  two  vessels  arrived  at  Jamaica  shortly  after  the 
battle  with  Porras,  and  brought  relief  to  the  admiral  and 
his  faithful  adherents,  after  a  long  year  of  dismal  confine 
ment  to  the  wreck.* 

14.  On  the  28th  of  June,  all  the  Spaniards  embarked, 
friend  and  foe,  on  board  of  the  vessels,  and  made  sail  joy 
fully  for  San  Domingo;  but,  from  adverse  winds  and 
currents,  they  did  not  arrive  there  until  the  13th  of  Au 
gust.     Whatever  lurking  enmity  there  might  be  to  Co 
lumbus  in  the  place,  it  was  overpowered  by  popular  sym 
pathy  for  his  late  disasters. 

15.  The  governor  and  the  principal  inhabitants  came 
forth  to  meet  him,  and  received  him  with  signal  distinc 
tion.     He  was  lodged  in  the  house  of  Ovando,  who  treat 
ed  him  with  the  utmost  courtesy  and   attention  ;  but 
there  were  too  deep  causes  of  jealousy  and  distrust  be 
tween  them  fcr  their  intercourse  to  be  cordial.     Their 
powers,  too,  were  so  defined  in  their  several  patents,  as 
to  clash   with  each   other,  and   to  cause  questions  of 
jurisdiction. 

16.  Ovando  assumed  a  right  to  take  cognizance  of  all 
transactions  at  Jamaica,  as  happening  within  the  limits 

*  Some  brief  notice  of  the  further  fortunes  of  Diego  Mendez  may  be  in 
teresting  to  the  reader. 

When  King  Ferdinand  heard  of  his  faithful  services,  he  bestowed  re 
wards  upon  him,  and  permitted  him  to  bear  a  canoe  in  his  coat  of  arms, 
as  a  memento  of  his  hardy  enterprise.  He  continued  devotedly  attached 
to  the  admiral,  serving  him  zealously  after  his  return  to  Spain,  and  during 
his  last  illness.  Columbus  retained  a  grateful  and  affectionate  sense  of 
his  fidelity.  On  his  deathbed,  he  promised  Mendez  that  he  should  be  ap 
pointed  principal  alguazil  of  the  island  of  Hispaniola.  The  promise,  how 
ever,  was  not  performed  by  the  heirs  of  Columbus.  Mendez  was  after 
wards  engaged  in  various  voyages  of  discovery,  met  with  many  vicissi 
tudes,  and  died  poor.  In  his  last  will,  he  requested  that  his  armorial 
bearing  of  an  Indian  canoe  should  be  engraved  on  his  tombstone,  and 
under  it  the  following  words:  u  Here  lies  the  honourable  Cavalier,  Diego 
Mendez  ;  who  served  greatly  the  royal  crown  of  Spain,  in  the  conquest 
of  the  Indies,  with  Admiral  Christopher  Columbus,  of  glorious  memory, 
who  made  the  discovery ;  and  afterwards  by  himself,  in  ships  at  his  own 
cost.  Bestow,  in  charily,  a  pater  noster  and  an  ave-maria." 


OF    COLUMBUS.  185 

of  his  government.  He  set  at  liberty  the  traitor  Porras, 
and  talked  of  punishing-  the  followers  of  Columbus  for  the 
deaths  of  tiie  mutineers  whom  they  had  slain  in  battle. 

17.  Columbus,  on  the  other  hand,  asserted  the  absolute 
jurisdiction  given  him  by  the  sovereigns,  in  his  letter  of 
instructions,  over  all  persons  who  sailed  in  his  expedi 
tion,  from  the  time  of  their  departure  from  Spain  until 
their  return. 

18.  The  governor  heard  him  with  great  courtesy  and 
a  smiling  countenance,  but  observed,  that  the  letter  gave 
him  no  authority  within  the  bounds  of  his  government. 
He  relinquished  the  idea,  however,  of  trying  the  faithful 
adherents  of  Columbus,  and  sent  Porras  to  Spain,  to  be 
examined  by  the  board  which  had  charge  of  the  affairs 
of  the  Indies. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

Affairs  at  Hispaniola  during  the  Administration  of  Ovan- 
do.     Return  of  Columbus  to  Spain.    [1504.] 

1.  LET  us  here  turn  for  a  moment  from  pursuing  the 
story  of  the  admiral,  to  notice  some  of  the  principal  oc 
currences  which  had  taken  place  in  Hispaniola  during 
the  absence  of  Columbus. 

2.  A  great  crowd  of  adventurers,  of  various  ranks,  had 
thronged  the  fleet  of  Ovando,  all  confidently  expecting- 
to  make  sudden  fortunes.     They  had  scarcely  landed 
when  they  all  hurried  off  to  the  mines,  which  were  about 
eight  leagues   distant.      The   road   swarmed  like   an 
ant-hill.     Every  one  had  his  knapsack  of  biscuit  and 
flour,  and  his  mining  implements  on  his  shoulder. 

3.  Those  hidalgos,  or  gentlemen,  who  had  no  servants 
to  carry  their  burdens,  were  fain  to  bear  them  on  their 
own  backs,  and  lucky  was  he  who  had  a  Horse  for  the 
expedition,  for  he  would  be  able  to  bring  bacK  the  greater 
load  of  treasure. 

4.  They  all  set  off  in  high  spirits,  eager  who  should 
first  reach  the  golden  land ;  thinking  they  had  but  to  ar- 


186  LIFE    ANI>    VOYAOE8 

rive  at  the  mines,  and  gather  gold,  as  easily  and  readily 
as  fruit  from  the  trees.  When  they  arrived,  however, 
they  found,  to  their  dismay,  that  it  required  experience 
to  discover  the  veins  of  ore  ;  that  the  whole  process  of 
mining-  was  exceedingly  slow  and  toilsome,  and  its  re 
sults  precarious. 

5.  They  digged  eagerly  for  a  time,  but  found  no  ore ; 
growing  hungry,  they  threw  by  their  implements,  sat 
down  to  eat,  and  then  returned  to  work.     It  was  all  in 
vain.     "  Their  labour,"  says  Las  Casas,  "  gave  them  a 
keen  appetite  and  quick  digestion,  but  no  gold."    They 
soon  exhausted  their  provisions  and  their  patience,  and 
returned  to  San  Domingo  half  famished,  downcast,  and 
despairing.     Poverty  soon  fell  upon  these   misguided 
men.     Some  wasted   away,  and  died  broken-hearted ; 
others  were  hurried  off  by  raging  fevers ;  so  that  there 
soon  perished  upwards  of  a  thousand  men. 

6.  Ovando  was  reputed  a  man  of  great  prudence  and 
sagacity,  and  he  certainly  took  severa1  judicious  measures 
for  the  regulation  of  the  island  and  the  relief  of  the  colo 
nists  ;  but  his  policy  was  fatal  to  the  natives.     When  he 
had  been  sent  out  to  supersede  Bobadilla,  the  queen, 
shocked  at  the  cruel  bondage  which  had  been  inflicted 
on  the  Indians,  had  pronounced  them  all  free.     The 
consequence  was,  they  immediately  refused  to  labour  in 
the  mines. 

7.  Ovando,  in  1503,  represented,  that  this  entire  lib 
erty  granted  to  the  natives,  produced  habits  of  idleness, 
profligacy,  and  neglect  of  all  religion.     The  sovereigns 
permitted,  therefore,  that  they  should  be  obliged  to  labour 
moderately,  if  essential  to  their  well-being,  but  that  they 
should  be  paid  regularly  and  fairly,  and  instructed  in 
religion. 

8.  Under  cover  of  this  hired  labour,  thus  intended  for 
the  health  of  soul  and  body,  more  intolerable  toil  was  ex 
acted  from  ttyem,  and  more  horrible  cruelties  inflicted, 
than  in  the  worst  days  of  Bobadilla.  Many  perished  from 
hunger,  or  sunk  under  the  lash  ;  many  killed  themselves 
in  despair*;   and  even  mothers  overcame  the  powerful 
instinct  of  nature,  and  destroyed  the  infants  at  their 
breasts,  to  spare  them  a  life  of  wretchedness. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  187 

9.  Even  those  who  survived  the  exacted  terms  of  labour, 
and  were  permitted  to  return  to  their  homes,  which  were 
often  sixty  and  eighty  leagues  distant,  were  dismissed  so 
worn  down  by  toil  and  hardship,  and  so  scantily  furnish 
ed  with  provisions,  that  they  perished  by  the  way.  Some 
sank  down  and  died  by  the  side  of  a  brook,  others  under 
the  shade  of  a  tree,  where  they  had  crawled  for  shelter 
from  the  sun. 

.  10.  "I  have  found  many  dead  on  the  road,"  says  the 
venerable  Bishop  Las  Casas  ;  "  others  gasping  under  the 
trees,  and  others  in  the  pangs  of  death,  faintly  crying, 
Hunger!  hunger !" 

11.  The  wars  of  Ovando  were  equally  desolating.   To 
punish  a  slight  insurrection  in  the  province  of  Higuey, 
at  the  eastern  end  of  the  island,  he  sent  his  troops,  who 
ravaged  the  country  with  fire  and  sword,  showed  no 
mercy  to  age  or  sex,  put  many  to  death  with  the  most 
wanton,  ingenious,  and  horrible  tortures,  and  brought  off 
the  brave  Cotabanama,  one  of  the  five  sovereign  caciques 
of  the  island,  in  chains  to  San  Domingo,  where  he  was 
ignominiously  hanged  for  the  crime  of  defending  his  ter 
ritory  and  his  native  soil  against  usurping  strangers. 

12.  But  the  most  atrocious  act  of  Ovando,  was  the 
punishment  he  inflicted  on  the  province  of  Xaragua. 
The  exactions  of  tribute  in  this  once  happy  and  hospita 
ble  province  had  caused  occasional  quarrels  between  the 
inferior  caciques  and  the  Spaniards :  these  were  magni 
fied  by  alarmists,  and  Ovando  was  persuaded  that  there 
was  a  deep-laid  plot  among  the  natives  to  rise  upon  their 
oppressors. 

13.  He  immediately  set  out  for  Xaragua,  at  the  head 
of  nearly  four  hundred  well-armed  soldiers,  seventy  of 
whom  were  steel-clad  horsemen.     He  gave  out  that  he 
was  going  on  a  visit  of  friendship,  to  make  arrangements 
about  the  payment  of  tribute. 

14.  Behechio,  the  ancient  cacique  of  the  province,  was 
dead,  and  his  sister,  Anacaona,  had  succeeded  to  the 
government.     She  came  forth  to  meet  Ovando,  attended 
by  her  most  distinguished  subjects,  and  her  train  of  dam 
sels,  waving  palm  branches,  and  dancing  to  the  cadence 
of  their  popular  areytos.    All  her  principal  caciques  had 


188  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

been  assembled  to  do  honour  to  her  guests,  who  for  seve 
ral  days  were  entertained  with  banquets  and  national 
games  and  dances. 

15.  In  return  for  these  exhibitions,  Ovando  invited 
Anacaona,  with  her  beautiful  daughter  Higuenamota,  and 
her  principal  subjects,  to  witness  a  tilting  match  by  the 
cavalry  in  the  public  square.    When  all  were  assembled, 
he  gave  a  signal,  and  instantly  the  horsemen  rushed  into 
the  midst  of  the  naked  and  defenceless  throng,  trampling 
them  under  foot,  cutting  them  down  with  their  swords, 
transfixing  them  with  their  lances,  and  sparing  neither 
age  nor  sex. 

16.  About  eighty  caciques  were  surrounded  in  one  of 
the  principal  houses,  bound  to  the  posts  which  supported 
the  roof,  and  put  to  cruel  tortures,  until,  in  the  extremity 
of  anguish,  they  were  made  to  admit  the  truth  of  the  plot 
with  which  their  queen  and  themselves  had  been  charged. 
When  self-accusation  had  thus  been  tortured  from  them, 
fire  was  set  to  the  house,  and  they  all  perished  miserably 
in  the  flames. 

17.  As  to  Anacaona,  she  was  carried  to  San  Domingo, 
where  the  mockery  of  a  trial  was  given  her,  in  which  she 
was  found  guilty,  on  the  confessions  wrung  by  torture 
from  her  subjects,  and  on  the  testimony  of  their  butchers, 
and  she  was  barbarously  hanged  .by  the  people  whom  she 
had  so  long  and  so  signally  befriended. 

18.  After  the  massacre  at  Xaragua,  the  destruction  of 
its  inhabitants  still  went  on  ;  they  were  hunted  for  six 
months  amidst  the  fastnesses  of  the  mountains,  and  their 
country  ravaged,  until,  all  being  reduced  to  deplorable 
misery  and  abject  submission,  Ovando  pronounced  the 
province  restored  to  order,  and,  in  commemoration  of  his 
triumph,  founded  a  town  near  the  lake,  which  he  called 
St.  Mary  of  the  True  Peace.* 

19.  Such  was  the  tragical  fate  of  the  beautiful  Ana 
caona,  once  extolled  as  the  Golden  Flower  of  Hayti ; 
and  such  the  story  of  the  delightful  region  of  Xaragua ; 
a  place  which  the  Europeans,   by  their  own  account, 
found  a  perfect  paradise,  but  which,  by  their  vile  pas 
sions,  they  filled  with  horror  and  desolation. 

*  Santa  Maria  de  la  Verdadera  Paz. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  189 

20.  These  are  but  brief  and  scanty  anecdotes  of  the 
ruthless  system  pursued,  during-  the  absence  of  the  ad 
miral,  by  the  commander  Ovando,  this  man  of  boasted 
prudence  and  moderation,  who  had  been  sent  to  reform 
the  abuses  of  the  island,  and  above  all  to  redress  the 
wrongs  of  the  natives. 

21.  The  system  of  Columbus  may  have  borne  hard 
upon  the  Indians,  born  and  brought  up  as  they  were  in 
untasked  freedom,  but  it  was  never  cruel  or  sanguinary. 
He  had  fondly  hoped,  at  one  time,  to  render  them  chi- 
lized  and  industrious  subjects  to  the  crown,  and  zealous 
converts  to  the  faith,  and  to  derive  from  their  regular 
tributes  a  great  and  steady  revenue. 

22.  How  different  had  been  the  event !  The  five  great 
tribes  which  had  peopled  the  mountains  and  the  valleys, 
at  the  time  of  the  discovery,  and  had  rendered  by  their 
mingled  villages  and  hamlets,  and  tracts  of  cultivation, 
the  rich  levels  of  the  vegas  so  many  "  painted  gardens," 
Lad  almost  all  passed  away,  and  the  native  princes  had 
perished  chiefly  by  violent  and  ignominious  deaths. 

23.  "  I  am  informed,"  said  he,  in  a  letter  to  the  sove 
reigns,  "  that  since  I  left  this  island,  six  parts  out  of  seven 
of  the  natives  are  dead,  all  through  ill-treatment  and  in 
humanity  ;  some  by  the  sword,  others  by  blows  and  cruel 
usage,  others  through  hunger ;    the  greater  part  have 
perished  in  the  mountains,  whither  they  had  fled,  from 
not  being  able  to  support  the  labour  imposed  upon  them." 

24.  He  found  his  own  immediate  concerns  in  great 
confusion.  His  rents  and  arrears  were  either  uncollected, 
or  he  could  not  obtain  a  clear  account  and  a  full  liquida 
tion  of  them.     The  continual  misunderstandings  which 
took  place  between  him  and  the  governor,  induced  Co 
lumbus  to  hasten  his  departure.     He  caused  the  ship  in 
which  he  had  returned  from  Jamaica  to  be  repaired  and 
fitted  out,  and  another  hired,  in  which  he  offered  a  passage 
to  such  of  his  late  crews  as  chose  to  return. 

25.  The  greater  part  preferred  to  remain  in  San  Do 
mingo  :  as  they  were  in  great  poverty,  he  relieved  their 
necessities  from  his  own  purse,  and  advanced  money  to 
those  who  accompanied  him  for  the  expenses  of  their 
voyage.     All  the  funds  he  could  collect  were  exhausied 


190  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

hi  these  disbursements,  arid  many  of  the  men  thus  re 
lieved  by  his  generosity  had  been  among  the  most  violent 
of  the  rebels. 

26.  On  the  12th  of  September  he  set  sail,  but  had 
scarcely  left  the  harbour  when  the  mast  of  his  ship  was 
carried  away  in  a  sudden  squall.     He  embarked,  there 
fore,  with  his  family  in  the  other  vessel,  commanded  by 
the  Adelantado,  and  sent  back  the  damaged  ship  to  port. 
Fortune  continued  to  persecute  him  to  the  end  of  this 
his  last  and  most  disastrous  expedition. 

27.  Throughout  the  voyage  he  experienced  tempestuous 
weather,  suffering  at  the  same  time  the  excruciating  tor 
ments  of  the  gout,  until,  on  the  7th  of  November,  his 
crazy  and  shattered  bark  anchored  in  the  harbour  of  San 
Lucar.     From  thence  he  proceeded  to  Seville,  to  enjoy 
a  little  tranquillity  of  mind  and  body,  and  to  recruit  his 
health  after  his  long  series  of  fatigues,  anxieties,  and 
hardships. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

Fruitless  solicitations  of  Columbus  to  be  reinstated  in  his 
Government.     His  last  illness  and  death.  [1504.] 

1.  THE  infirmities  of  Conumbus  were  too  great  to 
permit  him  to  proceed  to  court,  and  he  passed  the  winter 
at  Seville,  in  a  state  of  bodily  and  mental  suffering. 
Care  and  sorrow  were  destined  to  follow  him  by  sea  and 
land  ;  and  in  changing  the  scene,  he  but  changed  the 
nature  of  his  afflictions. 

2.  His  affairs  were  all  in  confusion  ;  and  had  been  so 
ever  since  his  arrest  by  Bobadilla.    His  revenues  arising 
in  San  Domingo  were  not  rendered  to  him  ;  and  his  re 
cent  disastrous  voyage  had  involved  him  in  expenses,  for 
the  greater  part  of  which  the  crown  remained  his  debtor. 

3.  In  a  letter  to  his  son  Diego  he  urges  him  to  extreme 
economy.     "I  receive  nothing  of  the  revenue  due  to 
me,"  says  he,  "but  live  by  borrowing.     Little  have  I 
profited  by  twenty  years  of  toils  and  perils,  since  at  pre 
sent  I  do  not  own  a  roof  in  Spam.     I  have  no  resort  but 


OF    COLUMBUS.  191 

an  inn,  and,  for  the  most  time,  have  not  wherewithal  to 
pay  my  bill." 

4.  He  wrote  repeatedly  to  the  sovereigns,  and  em 
ployed  the  mediation  of  friends,  to  obtain  the  restitution 
of  his  official  honours,  the  settlement  of  his  accounts,  and 
the  relief  of  the  seamen  who  had  sailed  with  him  in  his 
last  voyage.      His   letters   remained   unanswered,   his 
claims  unsatisfied,  and  a  cold  indifference  prevailed  with 
respect  to  him.     Finding-  the  inefficacy  of  letters,  he  at 
tempted  to  set  off  for  court  in  a  litter ;  but  his  increasing1 
maladies,  and  the  inclemency  of  the  season,  obliged  him 
to  abandon  the  journey. 

5.  In  the  mean  time,  the  intrigues  of  his  enemies  were 
prevailing.   Porras,  the  ringleader  of  the  late  faction,  had 
been  sent  home  for  trial,  but  he  went  at  large,  favoured 
by  his   relative   Morales,  the  royal  treasurer,  through 
whose  means  he  obtained  access  to  people  in  place,  and 
an  opportunity  to  enlist  their  opinions  and  prejudices  on 
his  side. 

6.  Columbus  felt  deeply  the  slights  and  neglects  of  the 
cold  hearted  Ferdinand,  and  rested  all  his  hopes  of  re 
dress  on  the  justice  and  magnanimity  of  Isabolla.     His 
reliance  would  not  have  been  in  vain,  but  during  the  time 
of  his  solicitation  she  had  lain  dangerously  ill. 

7.  "  May  it  please  the  Holy  Trinity,"  said  he,  in  a 
letter  to  his  son,  "to  restore  our  sovereign  queen  to 
health ;  for  by  her  every  thing  will  be  adjusted  that  is 
now  in  confusion."     Alas !  at  the  time  he  was  writing 
that  letter  his  noble  benefactress  lay  a  corpse  ! 

8.  The  health  of  Isabella  had  long  been  undermined 
by  repeated  shocks  of  domestic  calamity.     The  deaths 
of  two  of  her  favourite  children,  and  of  her  grandson  and 
heir,  together  with  the  infirmity  of  intellect  and  conjugal 
unhappiness  of  her  daughter  Juana,  wife  of  the  Archduke 
Philip,  were  cruel  wounds  to  her  maternal  heart. 

9.  The  desolation  which  walks  through  palaces  ad 
mits  not  the  familiar  sympathies  and  sweet  consolations 
which  alleviate  the  sorrows  of  common  life.     Isabella 
pined  in  state,  amidst  the  homage  of  a  court,  surrounded 
by  the  trophies  of  a  glorious  and  successful  reign,  and 
placed  at  the  summit  of  earthly  grandeur. 


192  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

10.  A  deep  and  incurable  melancholy  settled  upon  ner, ' 
which  undermined  her  constitution,  and  gave  a   fatal 
acuteness  to  her  bodily  maladies.     After  four  months  of 
illness,  she  died  in  the  fifty-fourth  year  of  her  age  ;  but, 
long  before  her  eyes  closed  upon  the  world,  her  heart  had 
closed  upon  all  its  pomps  and  vanities. 

11.  "Let  my  body,  "said  she,  in  her  will,  "  be  interred  in 
the  monastery  of  San  Francisco,  in  the  alhambra  of  the 
city  of  Granada,  in  a  low  sepulchre,  with  no  other  monu 
ment  than  a  plain  stone,  and  an  inscription.  But  I  desire 
and  command,  that  if  the  king,  my  lord,  should  choose  a 
sepulchre  in  any  church  or  monastery,  in  any  other  part 
or  place  of  these  my  kingdoms,  that  my  body  be  trans 
ported  thither,  and  buried  beside  the  body  of  his  highness ; 
go  that  the  union  we  have  enjoyed  while  living,  and 
which,  through  the  mercy  of  God,  we  hope  our  souls  will 
experience  in  heaven,  may  be  represented  by  our  bodies 
in  the  earth."* 

12.  Such  was  one  of  several  passages  in  the  will  of 
this  admirable  woman,  which   bespoke  the   chastened 
humility  of  her  heart,  and  in  which,  as  has  been  well  ob- 
eerved,  the  affections  of  conjugal  love  were  delicately 
entwined   with  fervent  religion  and  the  most  tender 
melancholy. 

1,3.  She  was  one  of  the  purest  spirits  that  ever  ruled 
over  the  destinies  of  a  nation.  Had  she  been  spared,  her 
benignant  vigilance  would  have  prevented  many  a  scene 
of  horror  in  the  new  world,  and  might  have  softened  the 
lot  of  its  native  inhabitants.  As  it  is,  her  fair  name  will 
ever  shine  with  celestial  radiance  in  the  early  dawning  of 
its  history. 

14.  The  news  of  the  death  of  Isabella  reached  Colum 
bus  while  he  was  writing  a  letter  to  his  son.    He  notices 
it  in  a  postcript,  written ,  in   beautifully  touching  and 
mournful  terms. 

15.  "  A  memorial,"  he  writes,  "  for  thee,  my  dear  son 

*The  dying  command  of  Isabella  has  been  obeyed.  The  author  of 
this  work  has  seen  her  tomb  in  the  royal  chapel  of  the  cathedral  of  Gra 
nada,  in  which  her  remains  are  interred  with  those  of  Ferdinand.  Their 
effigies,  eculpturpd  in  white  marble,  lie  side  by  side,  on  a  magnificent 
sepulchre.  The  altar  of  the  chapel  is  adorned  with  bas  reliefs,  repre 
senting  the  conquest  and  surrender  of  Granada. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  193 

Diego,  of  what  is  at  present  to  be  done.  The  principal 
thing  is  to  commend  affectionately,  and  with  great  devo 
tion,  the  soul  of  the  queen,  our  sovereign,  to  God.  Her 
life  was  always  catholic  and  pious,  and  prompt  to  all 
things  in  his  holy  service ;  for  this  reason  we  may  rest 
assured  that  she  Is  received  into  his  glory,  and  beyond 
the  cares  of  this  rough  and  weary  world.  , 

16.  "  The  next  thing  is,  to  watch  and  labour  in  all  mat 
ters  for  the  service  of  our  sovereign,  the  king,  and  to  en 
deavour  to  alleviate  his  grief.     His  majesty  is  the  head  of 
Christendom.      Remember   the   proverb,    which    says, 
when  the  head  suffers,  all  the  members  suffer.  Therefore 
all  good  Christians  should  pray  for  his  health  and  long 
life  ;  and  we,  who  are  in  his  employ,  ought  more  than 
others  to  do  this  with  all  study  and  diligence." 

17.  During  a  great  part  of  the  spring  Columbus  was 
detained  at  Seville  by  his  maladies.     The  Adelantado  in 
the  mean  time,  proceeded  to  court,  to  attend  to  his  con 
cerns.     The  latter  was  accompanied  by  the  admiral's 
younger  son  Fernando,  then  about  seventeen  years  old. 
in  a  letter  to  his  elder  son  Diego,  he  inculcates  the 
strongest  fraternal  attachment ;  alluding  to  his  own  bro 
thers  with  one  of  those  warm  and  affecting  touches  which 
speak  the  kindness  of  his  heart. 

18.  "  To  thy  brother,"  said  he,  «  conduct  thyself  as  the 
elder  brother  should  unto  the  younger.     Thou  hast  no 
other,  and  I  praise  God  that  this  is  such  a  one  as  thou 
dost   need.     Ten  brothers  would  not  be  too  many  for 
thee.     Never  have  I  found  a  better  friend,  to  right  or 
left,  than  my  brothers." 

19.  It  was  not  until  the  month  of  May  that  Columbus 
was  able  to  accomplish  his  journey  to  court.     He,  who 
,but  a  few  years  before  had  entered  the  city  of  Barcelona 
in  triumph,  attended 'by  the  chivalry  of  Spain,  and  hailed 
with  rapture  by  the  multitude,  now  arrived  at  the  gates 
of  Segovia,  a  way-worn,  melancholy,  and  neglected  man  ; 
oppressed  even  more  by  sorrows  than  by  his  years  and 
infirmities. 

20.  When  he  presented  himself  at  court,  he  was  made 
lamentably  sensible  of  the  loss  of  his  protectress,  the  be 
nignant  Isabella.  He  met  with  none  of  that  distinguished 


194  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

attention,  that  cordial  kindness,  that  cherishing  sym-' 
pathy,  which  his  unparalleled  services  and  his  recent 
suffering's  had  merited.  Ferdinand,  it  is  true,  received 
him  with  many  professions  of  kindness  ;  but  with  those 
cold,  ineffectual  smiles,  which  pass  like  wintry  sunshine 
over  the  countenance,  and  convey  no  warmth  to  the 
heart. 

21.  Many  months  were  passed  by  Columbus  in  painful 
and  humiliating  solicitation.  He  endeavoured  to  bear 
these  delays  with  patience ;  but  he  had  no  longer  the 
physical  strength,  and  the  glorious  anticipations,  which 
had  once  sustained  him  through  his  long  application  at 
this  court.  He  was  again  confined  to  his  bed  by  a  return 
of  the  gout,  aggravated  by  the  irritations  of  his  spirit. 
From  this  couch  of  anguish,  he  addressed  one  more  ap 
peal  to  the  justice  of  the  king.  He  no  longer  petitioned 
for  himself,  but  for  his  son  Diego.  He  entreated  that  he 
might  be  appointed  in  his  place  to  the  government  of 
which  he  had  been  so  wrongfully  deprived. 

22  "  This,"  said  he,  "  is  a  matter  which  concerns  my 
honour  ;  as  to  all  the  rest,  do  as  your  majesty  thinks  pro 
per  ;  give  or  withhold,  as  may  be  most  for  your  interest, 
and  I  shall  be  content.  I  believe  it  is  the  anxiety  caused 
by  the  delay  of  this  affair,  which  is  the  principal  cause  of 
my  ill  health." 

23.  This  petition  was  treated  by  Ferdinand  with  his 
usual  evasions  ;  he  endeavoured  to  prevail  upon  Colum 
bus  and  his  son  to  wave  their  claims  to  dignities  in  the 
new  world,  and  accept,  in  place  thereof,  titles  and  estates 
in  Castile.     Columbus  rejected  all  proposals  of  the  kind 
with  indignation.    He  saw,  however,  that  all  further  hope 
of  redress  from  Ferdinand  was  vain. 

24.  »From  the  bed  to  which  he  was  confined,  he  ad 
dressed  a  letter  to  a  friend,  expressive  of  his  despair. 
"  It  appears,"  said  he,  "  tha.t  his  majesty  does  not  think 
fit  tp  fulfil  that  which  he,  with  the  queen  who  is  now  in 
glory,  promised  me  by  word  and  seal.  For  me  to  contend 
to  the  contrary,  would  be  to  contend  with  the  wind.     I 
have  done  all  that  I  could  do.     I  leave  the  rest  to  God, 
whom  I  have  ever  found  propitious  to  me  in  my  ne 
cessities." 


OF    COLUMBUS. 


195 


25.  In  the  midst  of  illness  and  despondency,  when 
both  life  and  hope  were  expiring  in  the  bosom  of  Colum- 
bus,  a  new  gleam  was  awakened,  and  blazed  up  for  the 
moment  with  characteristic  fervour.     He  heard  with  joy 
of  the  arrival  from  Flanders  of  King  Philip  and  Queen 
Juana,  to  take  possession  of  their  throne  of  Castile.     In 
the  daughter  of  Isabella,  he  trusted  to  find  a  patroness 
and  a  friend. 

26.  King  Ferdinand  and  all  the  court  repaired  to  Lo- 
redo,  to  receive  the  youthful  sovereigns.    Columbus  sent 
his  brother,  the  Adelantado,  to  represent  him,  and  wrote 
a  letter  to  the  king  and  queen,  lamenting  his  being  pre 
vented  by  illness  from  coming  in  person.     He  expressed 
a  hope,  that  he  should  receive  at  their  hands  a  restitution 
of  his  honours  and  estates  ;    and  assured   them  that, 
though  cruelly  tortured  at  present  by  disease,  he  would 
yet  be  able  to  render  them  services,  the  like  of  which  had 
never  been  witnessed. 

27.  Such  was  the  last  sally  of  his  sanguine  and  un 
conquerable  spirit ;  which,  disregarding  age  and  infir 
mities,  and  all  past  sorrows  and  disappointments,  spoke 
from  his  dying  bed  with  all  the  confidence  of  youthful 
hope,  and  talked  of  still  greater  enterprises,  as  if  he  had 
a  long  and  vigorous  life  before  him. 

28.  The  Adelantado  took  an  affectionate  leave  of  his 
brother,  whom  he  was  never  to  behold  again,  and  set  out 
on  his  mission  to  the  new  sovereigns.     He  experienced 
the  most  gracious  reception,  and  flattering  hopes  were 
given  him  that  the  claims  of  the  admiral  would  speedily 
be  satisfied. 

29.  In  the  mean  time,  the  cares  and  troubles  of  Co 
lumbus  were  drawing  to  a  close.     The  transient  fire 
which  had  reanimated  him  was  soon  quenched  by  accu 
mulating  infirmities.     Immediately  after  the  departure  of 
the  Adelantado,  his  illness  increased  in  violence. 

3<X  Finding  that  his  end  was  approaching,  he  arranged 
all  his  earthly  affairs,  constituting  his  son  Diego  his  uni 
versal  heir,  entailing  his  honours  and  estates  on  the  male 
line  of  his  family,  and  providing  for  his  brothers  Don 
Bartholomew  and  Don  Diego,  and  his  natural  son  Don 
Fernando. 


196  LIFE    AND    VOYAGES 

31.  In  his  will  he  enjoined  that  a  portion  of  his  reve 
nues  should  be  annually  deposited  in  the  bank  of  St. 
George,  at  Genoa,  until  a  sufficient  sum  should  be  accu 
mulated  to  set  on  foot  a  crusade  to  the  Holy  Land ;  for 
the  rescue  of  the  holy  sepulchre  was,  to  the  last,  the  great 
object  of  his  ambition,  and  he  left  a  solemn  charge  upon 
his  heirs  to  aid  personally  in  the  pious  enterprise.  Other 
provisions  were  made  for  the  foundation  of  churches — the 
support  of  Beatrix  Enriquez,  the  mother  of  Fernando — the 
relief  of  his  poor  relations,  and  the  payment  of  the  most 
trivial  debts. 

32.  Having  thus  scrupulously  attended  to  all  the  claims 
of  earth,  he  turned  his  thoughts  to  heaven,  observing  all 
the  religious  ceremonials  of  a  devout  catholic.     In  his 
last  moments  he  was  attended  by  his  son  Diego,  and  a 
few  faithful  followers,  and  he  expired,  with  great  resig 
nation,  on  the  20th  of  May,  1506,  being  about  seventy 
years  of  age.     His  last  words  were,  "  Into  thy  hands, 
O  Lord,  I  commend  my  spirit."* 


CHAPTER  XLVL 

Observations  on  the  Character  of  Columbus. 

1.  COLUMBUS  was  a  man  of  great  and  inventive  genius. 
The  operations  of  his  mind  were  energetic,  but  irregular. 
His  ambition  was  lofty  and  noble,  inspiring  him  with 
high  thoughts,  and  an  anxiety  to  distinguish  himself  by 
great  achievements. 

2.  He  aimed  at  dignity  and  wealth  in  the  same  eleva 
ted  spirit  with  which  he  sought  renown  ;  they  were  to 
rise  from  the  territories  he  should  discover,  and  be  com 
mensurate  in  importance.     The  vast  gains  that  he  an 
ticipated,   he    intended    to    appropriate  to  public  pur 
poses  ;  to  institutions  for  the  relief  of  the  poor,  to  the 
foundation  of  churches,  and,  above  all,  to  crusades  for 
the  recovery  of  the  holy  sepulchre. 

3.  He  was  tenacious  of  his  rank  and  privileges,  not 

*  In  manus  tuas,  Domine  commendo  spiritum  meum. 


OP    COLUMBUS.  197 

from  a  mere  vulgar  love  of  titles,  but  because  he  prized 
them  as  testimonials  and  trophies  of  his  illustrious  deeds. 
Every  question  of  compromise  concerning"  them,  he  re 
pulsed  with  disdain.  "  These  things,"  said  he,  nobly, 
"  concern  my  honour."  In  his  testament,  he  enjoined 
on  his  son  Diego,  and  whomsoever  after  him  should  in 
herit  his  estates,  whatever  other  titles  might  be  granted 
by  the  king,  always  to  sign  himself  simply  "  The  Ad 
miral,"  by  way  of  perpetuating  in  the  family  the  source 
of  its  real  greatness. 

4.  His  concktct  was  characterized  by  the  magnanimity 
of  his  spirit.    Instead  of  ravaging  the  newly  found  coun 
tries  like  many  of  his  contemporary  discoverers,   who 
were  intent  only  on  immediate  gain,  he  sought  to  colonize 
and  cultivate  them,  to  civilize  the  natives,  to  subject  every 
thing  to  the  control  of  law,  order,  and  religion,  and  thus 
to  found  regular  and  prosperous  empires.     That  he  failed 
in  this,  was  the  fault  of  the  dissolute  rabble  which  it  was 
his   misfortune  to  command,  with  whom  all  law  was 
tyranny,  and  all  order  oppression. 

5.  He  was  naturally  irritable  and  impetuous,  and  keenly 
sensible  to  injury  and  injustice ;  yet  the  quickness  of  his 
temper  was  counteracted  by  the  benevolence  and  gene 
rosity  of  his   heart.     The  magnanimity  of  his  nature 
shone  forth  through  all  the  troubles  of  his  stormy  career. 
Though  continually  outraged  by  the  seditions  of  turbulent 
and  worthless  men,  arid  that,  too,  at  times  when  suffer 
ing  under  anguish  of  body  and  anxiety  of  mind,  yet  he 
restrained  his  valiant  and  indignant  spirit,  and  brought 
himself  to  forbear,  and  reason,  and  even  to  supplicate. 

6.  Nor  should  we  fail  to  notice  how  free  he  was  from 
all  feeling  of  revenge,  how  ready  to  forgive  and  forget  on 
the  least  signs  of  repentance  and  atonement.     He  has 
been  extolled  for  his  skill  in  controlling  others,  but  far 
greater  praise  is  due  to  him  for  the  firmness  he  displayed 
in  governing  himself. 

7.  His    piety   was    genuine   and   fervent ;    religion 
mingled  with  the  whole  course  of  his  thoughts  and  ac 
tions,  and  shone  forth  in  his  most  private  and  unstudied 
writings.     Whenever  he  made  any  great  discovery,  he 
devoutly  returned  thanks  to  God.    The  voice  of  prayer 

17* 


198  LIFE    AND   VOYAGES 

and  the  melody  of  praise  rose  from  his  ships  on  discover, 
ing  the  new  world,  and  his  first  action  on  landing-  was  to 
prostrate  himself  upon  the  earth,  and  offer  up  thanksgiv 
ings.  Every  evening  the  Salve  Regina,  and  other  vesper 
hymns,  were  chanted  by  his  crew,  and  masses  were  per- 
formed  in  the  beautiful  groves  that  bordered  the  wild 
shores  of  this  heathen  land. 

8.  All  his  great  enterprises  were  undertaken  in  the 
name  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  he  partook  of  the  holy 
sacrament  previous  to  embarkation.     He  observed  the 
festivals  of  the  church  in  the  wildest  situations.     The 
Sabbath  was  to  him  a  day  of  sacred  rest,  on  which  he 
would  never  sail  from  a  port,  unless  in  case  of  extreme^ 
necessity.     The  religion  thus  deeply  seated  in  his  soul 
diffused  a  sober  dignity,  and  a  benign  composure,  over 
his  whole  deportment ;  his  very  language  was  pure  and 
guarded,  and  free  from  all  gross  or  irreverent  expressions. 

9.  It  cannot  be  denied,  however,  that  his  piety  was 
mingled  with  superstition,  and  darkened  by  the  bigotry 
of  the  age.     He  evidently  concurred  in  the  opin  ion,  that 
all  the  nations  who  did  not  acknowledge  the  Christian 
faith  were  destitute  of  natural  rights  ;  and  that  the  stern 
est  measures  might  be  used  for  their  conversion,  and  the 
severest  punishments  inflicted  upon  them,  if  obstinate  in 
unbelief. 

10.  In  this  spirit  of  bigotry  he  considered  himself  jus 
tified  in  making  captives  of  the  Indians,  and  transporting 
them  to  Spain,  to  have  them  taught  the  doctrines  of 
Christianity,  and  in  selling  them  for  slaves  if  they  pre 
tended  to  resist  his  invasions. 

11.  It  is  but  justice  to  his  character  to  observe,  that 
the  enslavement  of  the  Indians  thus  taken  in  battle  was 
at  first  openly  countenanced  by  the  crown,  and  that, 
when  the  question  of  right  came  to  be  discussed  at  the 
request  of  the  queen,  several  of  the  most  distinguished 
jurists  and  theologians  advocated  the  practice ;  so  that 
the  question  was  finally  settled  in  favour  of  the  Indians 
solely  by  the  humanity  of  Isabella.     As  the  venerable 
bishop  Las  Casas  observes,  where  the  most  learned  men 
have  doubted,  it  is  not  surprising  that  an  unlearned  mari 
ner  should  err. 


OF   COLUMBUS.  199 

12.  These  remarks,  in  palliation  of  the  conduct  of 
Columbus,  are  required  by  candour.     It  is  proper  to  show 
him  in  connexion  with  the  age  in  which  he  lived,  lest  the 
errors  of  the  times  should  be  considered  his  individual 
faults.     It  is  not  intended,  however,  to  justify  him  on  a 
point  where  it  is  inexcusable  to  err.     Let  it  remain  a 
blot  on  his  illustrious  name,  and  let  others  derive  a  lesson 
from  it. 

13.  A  peculiar  trait  in  his  rich  and  varied  character 
was  an  ardent  imagination,  which  threw  a  magnificence 
over  his  whole  course  of  thought.     A  poetical  tempera 
ment  is  discernible  throughout  all  his  writings  and  in  all 
his  actions.     We  see  it  in  all  his  descriptions  of  the 
beauties  of  the  wild  lands  he  was  discovering ;  in  the 
enthusiasm  with  which  he  extols  the  verdure  of  the 
forests,  the  grandeur  of  the  mountains,  and  the  crystal 
clearness  of  the  running  streams ;  the  blandness  of  the 
temperature,  the  purity  of  the  atmosphere,  and  the  fra 
grance  of  the  air,  "full  of  dew  and  sweetness." 

14.  It  spread  a  golden  and  glorious  world  around  him," 
and  tinged  every  thing  with  its  own  gorgeous  colours.  It 
betrayed  him  into  visionary  speculations,  which  subjected 
him  to  the  sneers  and  cavils  of  men  of  cooler  and*  safer, 
but  more  grovelling  minds.     Such  were  the  conjectures 
formed  on  the  coast  of  Paria,  about  the  form  of  the  earth, 
and  the  situation  of  the  terrestrial  paradise  ;  about  the 
mines  of  Ophir,  and  the  Aurea  Chersonesus  of  the  an 
cients  ;  and  such  was  the  heroic  scheme  of  a  crusade,  for 
the  recovery  of  the  holy  sepulchre. 

15.  It  filled  his  mind  with  solemn  and  visionary  medi 
tations  on  mystic  passages  of  the  scriptures,  and  on  the 
shadowy  portents  of  the  prophecies.     It  exalted  his  own 
office  in  his  eyes,  and  made  him  conceive  himself  an  agent 
sent  forth  upon  a  sublime  and  awful  mission,  and  subject 
to  mysterious  intimations  from  the  Deity  ;  such  as  the 
voice  which  he  imagined  spoke  to  him  in  comfort,  in  the 
silence  of  the  night  on  the  disastrous  coast  of  Veragua. 

16.  He  was  decidedly  a  visionary,  but  a  visionary  of  an 
uncommon  kind,  and  successful  in  his  dreams.     The 
manner  in  which  his  ardent  imagination  and  mercurial 
nature  were  controlled  by  a  powerful  judgment,  and 


^00       LIFE  AND  VOYAGES  OF  COLUMBUS. 

directed  by  an  acute  sagacity,  is  the  most  extraordinary 
feature  in  his  character.  Thus  governed,  his  imagination, 
instead  of  exhausting  itself  in  idle  flights,  lent  aid  to  his 
judgment,  and  enabled  him  to  form  conclusions  at  which 
common  minds  could  never  have  arrived,  nay,  which  they 
could  not  perceive  when  pointed  out. 

17.  To  his  intellectual  vision  it  was  given  to  read  the 
signs  of  the  times,  and  to  trace  in  the  conjectures  and 
reveries  of  past  ages  the  indications  of  an  unknown  world, 
as  soothsayers  were  said  to  read  predictions  in  the  stars, 
and  to   foretell  events  from  the   visions  of  the  night. 
"  His  soul,"  observes  a  Spanish  writer,  "  was  superior  to 
the  age  in  which  he  lived.     For  him  was  reserved  the 
great  enterprise  of  traversing  a  sea  which  had  given  rise 
to  so  many  fables,  and  of  deciphering  the  mystery  of  his 
age." 

18.  With  all  the  visionary  fervour  of  his  imagination, 
its  fondest  dreams  fell  short  of  the  reality.     He  died  in 
^ignorance  of  the  real  grandeur  of  his  discovery  !    Until 
his  last  breath,  he  entertained  the  idea  that  he  had  merely 
opened  a  new  way  to  the  old  resorts  of  opulent  com 
merce,  and  had  discovered  some  of  the  wild  regions  of 
the  east.     He  supposed  Hispaniola  to  be  the  ancient 
Ophir,  which  had  been  visited  by  the  ships  of  King  Solo 
mon,  and  that  Cuba  and  Terra  Firma  were  but  remote 
parts  of  Asia. 

19.  What  visions  of  glory  would  have  broken  upon  his 
mind,  could  he  have  known  that  he  had  indeed  discover 
ed  a  new  continent  equal  to  the  old  world  in  magnitude, 
and  separated  by  two  vast  oceans  from  all  the  earth  hith 
erto  known  by  civilized  man  !  and  how  would  his  mag 
nanimous  spirit  have  been  consoled,  amidst  the  afflictions 
of  age,  and  the  cares  of  penury,  the  neglect  of  a  fickle 
public,  and  the  injustice  of  an  ungrateful  king,  could  he 
have  anticipated  the  splendid  empires  which  would  arise 
in  the  beautiful  world  he  had  discovered  ;  and  the  nations, 
and  tongues,  and  languages  which  were  to  fill  its  lands 
with  his  renown,  and  to  revere  and  bless  his  name  to  the 
latest  posterity  ! 


201 
APPENDIX. 


Obsequies  of  Columbus. 

1.  THE  body  of  Columbus  was  deposited  in  the  con 
vent  of  S.  Francisco,  and  his  obsequies  were  celebrated 
with  funeral  pomp  in  the  church  of  Santa  Maria  de  la 
Antigua,  in  Valladolid.     His  remains  were  transported, 
in  1513,  to  the  Carthusian  convent  of  Las  Cuevas,  at 
Seville,  and  deposited  in  the  chapel  of  Santa  Christo. 
In  the  year  1536,  they  were  removed  to  Hispaniola,  and 
interred  by  the  side  of  the  grand  altar  of  the  cathedral  of 
the  city  of  San  Domingo.     But  even  here  they  did  not 
rest  in  quiet.  .On  the  cession  of  Hispaniola  to  the  French 
in  1^95,  it  was  determined  by  the  Spaniards  to  bear  them 
off  to  the  island  of  Cuba  as  precious  relics,  connected 
with  the  most  glorious  epoch  of  Spanish  history. 

2.  Accordingly,  on  the  20th  of  December,  1795,  in  the 
presence  of  an  august  assemblage  of  the  dignitaries  of 
the  church  and  the  civil  and  military  officers,  the  vault 
was  opened  beside  the  high  altar  of  the  cathedral :  within 
were  found  the  fragments  of  a  leaden  coffin,  a  number  of 
bones,  and  a  quantity  of  mould,  evidently  the  remains  of 
a  human  body.     These  were  carefully  collected,  and  put 
into  a  case  of  gilded  lead,  secured  by  an  iron  lock  ;  the 
case  was  enclosed  in  a  coffin  covered  with  black  velvet, 
and  the  whole  placed  in  a  temporary  mausoleum. 

3.  On  the  following  day  there  was  another  grand  con 
vocation  at  the  cathedral :  the  vigils  and  masses  for  the 
dead  were  chanted,  and  a  funeral  sermon  was  preached 
by  the  archbishop.     After  these  solemn  ceremonials  in 
the  cathedral,  the  coffin  was  transported  to  the  ship,  at 
tended  by  a  grand  civil,  religious,  and  military  procession. 
The  banners  were  covered  with  crape ;  there  were  chants 
and  responses,  and  discharges  of  artillery  ;  and  the  most 
distinguished  persons  of  the  several  orders  took  turns  to 
support  the  coffin. 

4.  The  reception  of  the  body  at  Havana  was  equally 
august.     There  was  a  splendid  procession  of  boats  to 
conduct  it  from  the  ship  to  the  shore.     On  passing  the 


202  APPENDIX. 

vessels  of  war  in  the  harbour,  they  all  paid  the  honours 
due  to  an  admiral  and  captain-general  of  the  navy.  On 
arriving1  at  the  mole,  the  remains  were  met  by  the  gover 
nor  of  the  island,  accompanied  by  the  generals  of  the 
military  staff.  They  were  then  conveyed  in  the  utmost 
pomp  to  the  cathedral.  Masses  and  the  solemn  ceremo 
nies  of  the  dead  were  performed  by  the  bishop,  and  the 
mortal  remains  of  Columbus  were  deposited  in  the  wall, 
on  the  right  side  of  the  grand  altar,  where  they  still 
remain. 

5.  It  is  with  deep  satisfaction  that  the  author  of  this 
work  is  able  to  close  his  history  with  the  account  of  a 
ceremonial  so  noble  and  affecting,  and  so  honourable  to 
the  Spanish  nation.     When  we  read  of  the  remains  of 
Columbus  thus  conveyed  from  the  port  of  San  Domingo, 
after  an  interval  of  nearly  three  hundred  years,  as  sacred 
national  relics,  with  civil  and  military  pomp,  and  high 
religious  ceremonial,  we  cannot  hut  reflect  that  it  was 
from  this  very  port  he  was  carried  offloaded  with  igno 
minious  chains,  blasted  apparently  in  fame  and  fortune, 
and  taunted  by  the  revilings  of  the  rabble. 

6.  Such  honours,  it  is  true,  are  nothing  to  the  dead, 
nor  can  they  atone  to  the  heart,  now  dust  and  ashes,  for 
all  the  wrongs  and  sorrows  it  may  have  suffered  ;  but 
they  speak  volumes  of  comfort  to  the  illustrious  yet  slan 
dered  and  persecuted  living,  encouraging  them  bravely 
to  bear  with  present  injuries,  by  showing  them  how  true 
merit  outlives  all  calumny,  and  receives  its  glorious  re 
ward  in  the  admiration  of  after  ages. 

NOTE.— While  this  abridgment  was  going  to  press,  the  author  received 
a  letter  from  Madrid,  mentioning  a  recent  circumstance,  which  may  be  of 
some  interest  to  the  reader  of  this  work.  The  emancipation  of  the  Spa 
nish  Colonies  in  America  had  stripped  the  heirs  of  Columbus  of  all  their 
property,  insomuch  that  his  last  direct  descendant  and  representative,  the 
Duke  of  Veraguas,  a  young  nobleman  of  worth  and  talent,  was  reduced 
to  extreme  poverty.  He  instituted  a  claim  upon  the  government  for  in 
demnification,  which  has  just  been  allowed.  A  pension  of  twenty-four 
thousand  dollars  has  been  assigned  him  on  the  revenues  of  Cuba  and 
Porto  Rico,  tt  is  a  circumstance  highly  to  his  credit,  that,  in  the  time  of 
his  greatest,  distress,  he  refused  sums  that  were  offered  him  for  various 
documents  in  the  archives  of  his  family,  and  particularly  for  autographs 
of  his  illustrious  ancestor 


THE  END. 


QUESTIONS. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Page  3.  Sec.  1,  2.  Was  any  thing  certain  known  of  the  Ame 
rican  continent  before  the  fifteenth  century?  3.  What  was 
thought  of  the  Atlantic  ?  4,  5.  What  were  the  Arabian  notions 
concerning  it  ?  6.  What  is  the  object  of  the  present  work. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Page  5.  Sec.  1.  Where  and  when  was  Columbus  born  ?  2.  What 
%vas  his  parentage  1  What  the  sentiment  of  his  son  Fernando 
on  the  subject  ?  3,  4.  What  was  his  education  ?  5.  At  what 
age  (iid  he  go  to  sea  ?  What  was  the  nature  of  the  seafaring 
life  in  those  days  ? 

Page  6.  Sec.  6.  Who  did  he  first  sail  with  ?  7.  In  what  expe 
dition  ?  What  did  he  do  at  Tunis  ?  8,  9.  What  battle  was  he 
engaged  in  on  the  Portuguese  coast  ? 

Page  7.  Sec.  10.  The  event  of  that  battle?  11.  What  are  the 
probable  objects  that  led  Uolumbus  to  Portugal  1 

CHAPTER  II. 

Page  7.  Sec.  1.  Who  patronized  modern  discovery?  2.  What 
were  his  ideas  with  respect  to  a  route  by  sea  to  India?  3.  What 
errors  had  he  to  struggle  against1? 

Page  8.  Sec.  4.  His  measures  to  conquer  them?  5.  What  aid 
did  he  receive  from  the  Pope  ?  6.  His  death,  character,  and 
motto  ?  7,  8.  The  person  of  Columbus? 

Pa^e  9.  Sec.  9.  His  temper  and  manners?  10.  His  diet  and 
dress?  His  discourse  ?  His  religious  habits  ?  11, 12.  Who  did 
he  marry  ?  Where  did  he  first  see  her?  Their  circumstances? 

13.  How  did  this  connexion  operate  upon  his  nautical  pursuits  ? 

14.  On  what  expeditions  did  he  sail  ?     On  what  island  did  he 
reside  ? 

Page  10.     Sec.  15.  What  were  the  rumours  among  seamen  con 
cerning  land  in  the  Atlantc?     16.  What  of  the  island  of  St. 
Brandon  ?     17.  What  effect  had  these  things  upon  the  mind  of 
Columbus  ?    18.  What  idea  did  he  form  respecting  a  new  route 
to  India? 

CHAPTER  III. 

Page  11.  Sec.  I.  What  did  Columbus  suppose  to  be  the  form  of 
the  earth  ?  How  much  of  its  circumference  did  he  suppose  to  be 


204  QUESTIONS. 

discovered  ?  How  was  the  remaining  part  filled  up  ?  2.  What 
was  the  opinion  of  the  ancients  witli  respect  to  India?  What 
had  Marco  Polo  done  to  confirm  it  ?  3.  What  was  the  opinion 
of  Alfraganus  respecting  the  size  of  the  earth  ?  What  did  Co 
lumbus  infer  from  that  opinion  ?  4,  5.  What  facts  tended  to 
confirm  the  helief  in  lands  to  the  westward  ?  6.  What  regions 
were  described  by  Marco  Polo  ? 
Page  12.  Sec.  7.  What  and  where  was  the  island  of  Cipango  1 

8.  What  was  the  plan  of  Columbus  in   his  projected  voyage? 

9.  What  errors  encouraged  him?     10.  11.  Effect  of  his  theory 
upon  his  conduct  and  character? 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Page  13.  Sec.  1.  What  difficulties  impeded  the  project  of  Co 
lumbus?  2.  Where  did  he  sail  in  the  interim  ?  3,  4.  What  instru 
ment  was  introduced  into  nautical  use  under  the  patronage  of 
John  II.  ?  Its  effects  on  navigation  ?  Upon  the  plans  of  Co 
lumbus? 

Page  14.  Sec.  5.  How  was  his  proposition  received  by  King 
John  ?  How  by  his  counsellors  ?  6,  7.  What  artifice  did  they 
resort  to  ?  8.  How  did  Columbus  act  in  consequence  ?  9. 
Where  did  he  next  go  ?  How  did  he  conduct  himself  towards 
his  family  ?  10.  How  was  his  proposition  received  by  Genoa  ? 

Page  15.  Sec.  11.  How  by  Venice?  Where  did  he  send  his. 
brother  Bartholomew  ?  Where  did  he  go  himself? 

CHAPTER  V. 

Page  15.  Sec.  1.  Where  is  the  convent  of  La  Rabida  situated? 
Where  is  the  port  of  Palos?  2.  What  happened  at  the  gate 
of  the  convent?  3.  Who  was  Juan  Perez  de  Marchena  ?  4.. 
How  did  he  act  towards  Columbus  ? 

Page  16.  Sec.  5.  Who  was  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon  ?  What  -vd  did 
he  yield  Columbus  ?  6.  To  whom  did  Juan  Perez  give  Colum 
bus  a  letter?  7.  When  did  Columbus  set  out  for  the  court? 
8,  9.  How  did  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  govern  their  kingdoms? 

10.  What  was  the  chancier  of  Ferdinand  ? 

Page  17.  Sec.  11,  12.  What  were  the  person  and  character  of 
Isabella?  13.  Her  civil  policy? 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Page  17.  Sec.  1.  What  was  the  state  of  the  Spanish  court?  2. 
How  was  Columbus  received  by  Talavera  ? 

Page  18.  Sec.  3,  4,  5.  How  was"  he  regarded  by  courtiers  ?  by 
scoffers?  by  children?  6.  What  connexion  did  he  form  at  Cor 
dova?  7,  8.  What  proselytes  did  he  gain?  Who  obtained  an 
audience  for  him  with  the  king? 

Page  19.  Sec.  9,  10,  11.  How  was  he  received?  What  was  tire 
result  of  his  audience  ? 


QUESTIONS.  205 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Page  19.  Sec.  1.  Where  did  the  grand  conference  take  place  ? 

2,  3,  4.  What  were  the  prepossessions  of  the  members  against 
Columbus?     5,6.  What  objections  were  made  to  his  theory? 
7.  What  is  the  excuse  for  them  ? 

Page  21.  Sec.  8.  Were  there  not  religious  objections  ?  9,  10. 
How  did  Columbus  answer  them?  11.  What  effect  had  his 
reasoning?  12.  What  life  did  he  lead  during  his  solicitations? 

Page  22.  Sec.  13.  What  was  the  final  decision  of  the  council  of 
Salamanca?  14.  What  its  effect  upon  Columbus? 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Page  22.  Sec.  1.  To  what  noblemen  did  Columbus  apply  ?  With 

what  success? 
Page  23*  Sec.  2.  To  what  court  did  he  next  turn  his  thoughts? 

3,  4.  What  occurred  on  his  revisiting  the  convent  of  La  Rabi- 
da  ?  5,  6.  What  was  the  effect  of  the  friar's  intercession  with 
the  queen  ?    7.  What  did  Columbus  witness  on  returning  to 
the  court? 

Pa^e  24.  Sec.  8.  His  appearance  and  conduct  there  ?  9,  10, 11. 
What  were  his  demands  on  his  first  negotiation  ?  How  were 
they  received?  What  sneer  was  made  respecting  his  terms? 
How  did  he  answer  it  ?  Why  was  the  negotiation  broken  off? 

Page  25.  Sec.  13.  What  was  the  conduct  and  determination  of 
Columbus  in  consequence?  14.  Who  remonstrated  with  the 
queen?  15.  What  was  the  speech  of  Isabella  respecting  her 
;ewels  ?  16.  Where  was  Columbus  when  called  back  to  court? 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Page  26.  Sec.  1.  How  was  Columbus  received  on  his  return  to 
court?  2.  What  were  the  stipulations  agreed  upon?  What 
,his  titles  and  authorities  1  What  his  share  in  the  profits  ?  What 
his  jurisdiction  as  judge?  What  his  privileges  on  contributing 
an  eighth  of  the  expense?  3.  Where  and  when  were  those 
articles  signed  ? 

Page  27.  Sec.  4.  What  religious  object  had  Columbus  in  his  dis 
coveries?  5.  What  was  his  proposition  concerning  a  crusade? 
6,  7,  8.  What  port  was  fixed  upon  for  the  embarkation  ?  What 
orders  were  issued  respecting  ships  and  supplies  ?  9.  What  post 
was  given  to  the  son  of  Columbus? 

Page  28.  Sec.  10.  How  long  had  Columbus  prosecuted  his  suit  ? 
How  old  was  he  when  he  succeeded  ?  What  should  his  exam 
ple  teach?  11,  12,  13.  How  was  the  royal  mandate  received 
at  Palos  ?  14.  How  did  Pinzon  behave  ? 

Page  29.  Sec.  15.  The  effect  of  his  conduct?  16.  What  of  the 
third  vessel?  17,18.  What  was  the  force  of  th*  squadron? 
The  nature  of  the  ships?  Their  commanders?  19.  The  cir* 
cumstances  of  their  departure  ? 


206  QUESTIONS. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Page  30.     Sec.  1.  When  did  Columbus  set  sail  1    2.  What  was 

the  nature  of  the  chart  by  which  lie  sailed  1 
Page  31.     See.  7,  8.  What  was  the   conduct  of  the  seamen  on 

losing  sight  of  land  ?     11.  What  of  the  variation  of  the  needle  ? 
Page  32.    Sec.  14.  What  of  the  trade  wind'?     16,  17.  What  signs 

of  land  cheered  the  seamen  ?  & 

Page  33.     Sec.  19,  20.  How  were  they  affected  by  the  length  of 

the  voyage?     21.  What  of  the  singing  of  the  small  birds? 
Page  34.     Sec.  24.  25.  What  did  they  apprehend  from  the  patches 

of  sea  weeds  ?  What  from  the  calmness  of  the  sea?   26,  27,  28. 

What  were  their  mutinous  suggestions? 
Page  35.     Sec.  29—33.  What  the  false  alarms  of  land  ?     The  ef 

fect  of  disappointments  ?     The  firm  reply  of  Columbus  to  his 

crew  ? 
Page  36-    Sec.  34.  What  dispelled  all  doubts?    35,  36.  What 

was  the  conduct  of  Columbus  the  eve  of  his  discovery  ?  'His 

address  to  his  crew?  His  arrangements  for  the  night?  38-  VVho 

first  saw  a  light  on  shore  ? 
Page  37-     Sec  40.  Who  first  saw  land  ?     41.  The  effect  upon  the 

feelings  of  Columbus  ? 

CHAPTER  XL 

Page  38.     Sec.  1.  What  was  the  appearance  of  the  island  in  the 

morning?     2,  3,  4.  Describe  the  landing  of  Columbus. 
Page  39.     Sec.  5.  How  did  his  followers  behave  ?     6—10.  What 

was  the  idea  of  the  natives  respecting  the  ships  and  Spaniards  ? 

their  behaviour. 
Page  40.     Sec.  11.  What  was  the  character  of  the  natives  ?     13. 

What  was  the  name  of  the  island  ?  How  came  the  natives  to  be 

called  Indians  ?     15.  What  did  they  offer  in  barter  y    16.  What 

intelligence  did  they  give  concerning  gold  ? 
Page  41.     Sec.  17.  What  were  the  conclusions  of  Columbus? 

18.  What  did   he  think  of  the  number  of  small  islands?     22. 

W^hat  was  the  first  account  he  heard  of  Cuba  ?   What  land  did 

suppose  it  to  be  ? 
Page  42.   Sec.  23.  What  were  his  impressions  on  coasting  Cuba  ? 

27.  What  traces  did  he  meet  with  of  the  natives  ? 
Page  43.     Sec.  29.    What  embassy  did  he  send  into  the  interior? 

32.  What  strange  article  of  luxury  did  the  envoys  meet  with 

among  the  natives? 
Page  44.     Sec.  34-  What  occurred  during  the  admiral's  cruise  in 

quest  of  the  island  of  Babique  ?     36-  What  did  he  think  of 

the  desertion  of  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon  ?     38    How  did  he  first 


discover  the  island  of  Hayti? 
Page  45-     Sec-  40.    What  was  the 

CHAPTE 

age  45-  Sec-  2.  Why  did  Columb 

3-  What  interview  took  place  with  the  inhabitants? 


he  appearance  of  the  island  ? 
CHAPTER  XII- 
Page  45-  Sec-  2.  Why  did  Columbus  name  the  island  Hispauiola? 


QUESTIONS  207 

Page  46-  Sec-  8.  Describe  the  interview  with  the  young  cacique  1 
Page  47.     Sec.  11.  What  was  the  first  overture  of  friendship  on 

the  part  of  Guacanagari  ?     14-  What  were  the  circumstances  of 

the  shipwreck  of  Columbus'? 
Page  48     Sec-  17-  What  was  the  conduct  of  Guacanagari  and 

his  subjects  ? 
Page  49.     Sec.  19.  How  did  the  chieftain  entertain  Columbus? 

20    What  military  display  was  made  by  Columbus  ?     Its  effect 

on  the  natives'?    23-  What  was  the  first  account  of  the  gold 

mines  of  Cibao  1 
Page  50.     Sec.  24.  What  was  the  mode  of  life  of  the  natives? 

27.  What  effect  had  it  upon  the  sailors  1     What  new  plan  was 

adopted  by  Columbus'? 
Page  51.     Sec.  30.  What  was  the  nature  of  the  fort  he  built,  and 

of  his  instructions  to  the  garrison  ?    34.  What  were  the  circum 
stances  attending  his  departure  ? 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Page  52-  Sec-  1-  How  did  they  meet  with  the  Pinta?  2-  What 
was  the  excuse  of  Pinzon  ?  What  his  real  motive  ?  3.  Where 
had  he  been  ? 

Page  53.  Sec-  4-  What  did  Columbus  do  at  Rio  de  Gracia  1  5,  6. 
Where  was  the  first  native  blood  shed  by  Europeans  in  the  new 
world  1  7.  What  was  the  name  of  the  cacique  of  Ciguay  1  8- 
His  conduct  ? 

Page  54.  Sec-  11 — 17.  Describe  the  storm  on  the  voyage  home 
ward.  The  vows  made  by  the  admiral  and  his  crew.  The 
precaution  taken  by  Columbus  to  perpetuate  the  fame  of  his 
discovery  in  case  of  shipwreck. 

Page  55-  Sec  18  What  land  did  he  first  arrive  at?  19 — 22. 
How  was  he  received  ?  What  occurred  between  him  and  the 
governor  ?  23-  At  what  place  in  Portugal  did  he  arrive  1 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Page  57.  Sec.  1.  The  effect  of  the  arrival  in  the  Tagus  ?  2.  The 
conduct  of  the  people  1 

Page  58.  Sec-  3,  4  The  treatment  and  reception  of  Columbus 
by  the  king1?  5,  6  What  were  the  doubts  of  king  John  re 
specting  the  discovery  ?  7,  8,  9-  What  was  the  advice  of  his 
counsellors  ? 

Page  59.  Sec.  10-  How  did  the  king  treat  their  advice  ?  12. 
What  was  the  reception  of  Columbus  at  Palos  ? 

Page  60-  Sec  16  What  was  the  fate  of  Pinzon?  What  the 
apologies  to  he  made  for  his  conduct?  What  the  moral  to  be 
drawn  from  it  ? 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Page  61-  Sec.  1.  Describe  the  journey  of  Columbus  to  Barcelona. 
Page  62.     Sec-  2-  His  arrival  and  entrance  there  ?  3-  The  parade 


208  QUESTIONS. 

of  his  Indian  'rophies?    4.  The  appearance  of  the  streets  ?    5. 

What  gavo  s^Ok'e. unity  and  grandeur  to  this  spectacle  ?    6.  How 

did  the  sove-cj^i.'  receive  Columbus  1 
Page  63.     Stv.  7  P.  How  did  he  appear  in  their  presence  1    His 

looks?  His  c-'Hid?if  •  •  9.  His  relation  of  his  discoveries'?  10,11. 

Describe  die  thank  giving  of  the  sovereigns  and  their  court. 
Page  64.     Sec.  1*\  \\  ivt  vow  did  Columbus  make  concerning 

the  holy  sepulchre?     14,  15.  What  honours  did  he  receive  » 

What  coat  of  arms  am1  motto  ?     16.  What  concerning  the  pen 
sion  for  first  descrying  hud"? 
Page  65.    Sec.  17.  Ilelai«  tfie  anecdote  of  the  egg.  20,  21.  What 

idea  was  entertained  concerning  the  newly  discovered  land? 

What  name  did  it  receive  ? 

CHAPTER  XVI. 


Page  65.     Sec.  1.  What  wac  the  nature  of  the  bull  obtained  from 

the  Pope  ? 
Page  66.     Sec.  2.  In  virtue  of  what  authority  ?  3.  What  was  the 

line  of  demarcation  1    4.  W  ho  was  appointed  superintendent  of 

Indian  affairs'?     6.  What  monk  was  sent  as  apostolical  vicar  1 

7.  YVhat  did  Isabella  for  the  Indians  1 
Page  67.    Sec.  8.  What  was  the  public  feeling  respecting  the  new 

expedition  ?    9,  10.  Who  was  Alonzo  de  Ojeda?    His  person; 

character  1    11, 12.  His  exploit"?    13.  What  dispute  arose  with 

Fonseca  ? 
Page  68.    Sec.  14.  Its  consequences'? 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Page  68.     Sec.  1.  Where  did  Columbus  embark  on  his  second 

voyage  ?  What  armament  ? 
Page  69.     Sec.  3.    The  scene  of  his  embarkation  1    4,  5.  What 

islands  did  he  discover?    6,  7.  What  of  the  Caribs  and  their 

cannibalism  ? 
Page  70.    Sec.  8.  Relate  the  anecdote  of  the  eight  stragglers,  and 

Ojeda's  search  after  them.    12.  Relate  the  conflict  with  the  In 
dian  canoe.     The  valour  of  the  females. 
Page  71.    Sec.  15.   What  was  the  original  name  of  Porto  Rico  7 

18.  What  circumstance  alarmed  Columbus  on  landing  on  the 

coast  of  Hayti  ? 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Page  72.     Sec.  1,  2.  What  occurred  on  arriving  at  La  Navidad  I 

3.  What  was  the  st«>ry  of  the  Indians  ? 
Page  73.     Sec.  5.  What  was  the  appearance  of  the  shore  on  the 

next  day  ?    6.  What  was  the  state  of  the  fort  7    7.  What  search 

did  Columbus  make?     8.  What  did  he  discover?    9.  What 

was  the  true  story  of  the  fortress  ? 


QUESTIONS.  209 

Page  74.     Sec.  12.  Who  was  Caonabo  ?    14.  What  did  he  dp  to 

the  fortress  ? 
Page  75.     Sec.  16.  What  occurred  in  Columbus'  visit  to  Guaca- 

nagari  7   18.  What  most  amazed  the  chief  on  board  of  the  ship" 

19.  Who  was  Catalina?    20.  What  was  the  advice  of  Friar 

Boyle? 
Page  76.     Sec.  23.  How  was  the  escape  of  Catalina? 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Page  77.  Sec.  1.  Why  did  Columbus  remove  the  colony;  and 
whither?  2.  The  name  of  the  new  town  ?  3.  How  built?  4. 
The  sfate  of  the  colonists  1 

Page  78.  Sec.  7.  Why  did  Columbus  send  an  expedition  to  Ci- 
bao  1  8.  The  commander  of  the  expedition  1  His  route  ?  His 
success  1  11.  Who  sailed  for  Spain  1 

Page  79.  Sec.  12.  What  did  he  take  with  him?  What  did  Co 
lumbus  write  ?  14.  His  advice  respecting  the  Caribs?  15.  How 
was  it  received  by  the  sovereigns?  16.  The  effect  in  Europe 
of  the  arrival  of  the  fleet  ? 

Page  80.  Sec.  18.  What  were  the  murmurs  of  the  colonists  ?  20. 
Who  formed  a  conspiracy?  How  was  it  punished  ?  21.  What 
was  the  disadvantage  of  Columbus  ? 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Page  81-     Sec- 1-  What  expedition  did  Columbus  undertake  ?  2. 

What  road  did  the  Spaniards  make  across  the  mountains?     3. 

What  prospect  did  they  see  from  the  mountain  ? 
Page  82.     Sec-  6, 7.  How  did  they  march  ?  How  did  the  Indians 

behave  ?    8,  9-  What  was  the  appearance  of  the  gold  region  ? 

10.  What  fortress  did  Columbus  build  ? 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Page  83.  Sec.  1.  Who  was  left  in  command  of  St  Thomas  ?  2- 
.  What  was  the  character  of  the  natives  ?  3.  What  was  their 
creed  ? 

Page  84-  Sec-  4-  What  were  zemes  ?  5.  What  were  the  Indian 
priests?  6.  The  festivals  of  a  cacique  in  honour  of  his  zemi? 
8.  The  ideas  of  the  natives  respecting  creation? 

Page  85.  Sec.  9, 10.  Respecting  the  origin  of  man  ?  11.  Of  wo 
men  ?  13.  Respecting  the  deluge  ? 

Page  86.  Sec.  16.  Their  treatment  of  the  dying  and  dead?  18. 
Their  ideas  of  a  future  state  ?  19.  Their  dances  and  areytos  ? 

Page  87.  Sec.  20.  What  was  their  character  for  industry  ?  21, 
Why  were  they  indolent?  23.  How  did  they  treat  the  Spaniards  ? 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Page  88.    Sec.  1.  What  tidings  did  Columbus  receive  after  his 

18* 


210  QUESTIONS. 

return  '<  How  did  he  act  ?  2-  What  was  the  state  of  the  colo 
nists  at  the  harbour  ?  What  did  Friar  Boyle  1  3,  4.  What 
gave  offence  to  the  cavaliers  ? 

Page  89.  Sec.  5,  6.  What  was  the  fate  of  these  cavaliers  ?  7. 
What  superstitious  story  was  told  concerning  them  ?  How  was 
their  fate  charged  to  Columbus,  and  what  did  Columbus  resolve 
to  do,  prior  to  sailing  on  discoveries  ?  9.  Who  did  he  put  at 
the  head  of  his  forces  ?  What  orders  did  he  give  him  ? 

Page  90.  Sec.  10,  Jl.  What  punishment  did  Ojeda  inflict  upon 
Indian  thie\es?  12,  13,  14.  What  did  Columbus  with  the  cap 
tive  cacique  /  Why  did  he  pardon  him  ?  What  was  the  ex 
ploit  of  a  single  horseman  ?  15.  Whom  did  Columbus  leave  in 
command  when  he  sailed  ? 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Paae  91-  Sec.  1.  What  was  the  plan  of  Culumbus  in  revisiting 
Cuba'?  2.  How  was  he  received  by  the  natives?  3-  Why  did 
he  steer  for  Jamaica  1  Its  aspect  ?  4.  What  of  the  natives, 
and  their  canoes  • 

Page  92-  Sec-  5.  Relate  the  story  of  the  young  Indian.  7,  8. 
What  was  the  queen's  garden  ?  What  did  Columbus  consider  it  ? 

Page  93.  Sec.  9.  What  of  Ornofay?  10.  The  evening  regale 
along  its  coast  ?  12.  What  made  him  suppose  that  he  was  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Mangi  ?  13.  What  was  the  story  of  the 
archer,  and  the  men  in  whfte  ? 

Page  94.  Sec.  15.  What  of  the  party  sent  in  search  of  him  ?  16. 
The  probable  origin  of  the  story  ? 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Page  94-  Sec-  1.  What  did  Columbus  hope  to  effect. by  continu 
ing  his  voyage  ?  2.  Why  was  he  induced  to  abandon  it'/ 

Page  65-  Sec-  3.  What  deposition  did  he  require  from  his  crew? 
4.  What  would  have  been  the  effect  had  he  continued  on  ?  6. 
Relate  the  anecdote  of  the  old  Indian  and  his  speech. 

Page  96.  Sec.  9.  What  was  the  reply  of  Columbus  ?  10.  What 
the  wish  of  the  old  Indian  ?  11.  What  the  incident  of  the  ca 
cique  of  Jamaica  and  his  family? 

Page  97.  Sec.  14.  His  speech?  15.  The  reply  of  Columbus? 
16.  Whither  did  Columbus  wish  to  proceed  ?  17,  18.  What 
prevented  him  ? 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Page  98.  Sec.  1.  Who  did  Columbus  find  at  Isabella  ?  2.  How 
had  Bartholomew  succeeded  with  henry?  4,5,  6.  Describe 
the  person  of  Bartholomew.  His  temper.  Manners.  Dispo- 
tion.  His  mental  endowments. 

Page  99.    Sec.  7.  What  title  did  Columbus  give  him  ?    8.  What 


QUESTIONS. 

had  been  the  conduct  of  Margarite  ?  9.  His  reply  to  Don 
Diego  1  10.  Who  was  his  ally  ?  Their  proceedings  ?  11. 
What  was  the  conduct  of  the  army  ? 

Page  100.  Sec.  12.  Its  effects  1  13.  What  was  the  design  of 
Caonabo  ?  14,  15.  What  of  Ojeda  and  his  picture  of  the  Vir 
gin  ?  16.  What  of  the  attack  on  the  fortress  by  Caonabo  7 

Page  101.     Sec.  18.     What  were  the  five  domains  of  the  island  ? 

20.  What  was  the  plot  of  the  caciques  ?     What  prevented  it? 

21.  What  occurred  between  Columbus  and  Guacanagari  ? 
Page  102.    Sec.  22.  What  were  the  measures  taken  by  Colum 
bus  ?    24.  State  the  expedition  of  Ojeda. 

Page  103.     Sec.  27.  What  of  the  chapel  bell?    30.  What  was 

the  artifice  of  the  manacles  ? 
Page  104.    Sec.  33.  What  the  conduct  of  Caonabo  as  prisoner  ? 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Page  105.    Sec.  1.  What  relief  did  Torres  bring  ?    What  letters  ? 

2.  What  did  Columbus  send  by  the  ships  ?    4.  What  did  he  hear 

respecting  the  Indians?     With  what  foice  did  he  take  the  field  ? 
Page  106.     Sec.  6.  Where  did  he  meet  the  enemy?    7.  Describe 

the  battle.     10.  What  of  Guacanagari  ?    11,  12.  What  tribute 

did  Columbus  enforce  ? 
Page  107.    Sec.  13,  14.  Its  effects  upon  the  natives?    15.  The 

nature  of  their  ballads  ? 
Page  108.  Sec.  18.  What  measures  did  they  take  in  their  despair  ? 

19.  How  did  the  Spaniards  act  in  consequence  ?    20.  What 

was  the  fate  of  Guacanagari  ?    23.  His  character  ? 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Page  109.  Sec.  1.  Who  misrepresented  the  conduct  of  Colum 
bus  at  the  court  of  Spain  ?  3.  What  measure  was  taken  in  con 
sequence  ?  4.  Who  was  Aguado  7 

Page  110.  Sec.  5.  What  was  done  with  the  slaves?  6,  7,  8. 
How  did  Aguado  act  on  arriving  ?  9,  10,  11.  How  did  Colum 
bus  conduct  towards  him? 

Page  111.  Sec.  12.  What  was  the  effect  among  the  people?  13. 
How  did  Aguado  receive  their  complaints  ?  14.  Describe  the 
hurricane. 

Pa^e  112.  Sec.  17.  Recite  the  story  of  Diaz.  20.  How  were  his 
tidings  received  at  Isabella  ? 

Page  113.  Sec.  23.  What  did  Columbus  infer  from  the  mining 
excavations  ?  24.  What  of  Diaz  and  his  Indian  bride  ? 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Page  113.     Sec.  1.  Whom  did  Columbus  leave  in  command  ? 
What  kind  of  people  returned  with  him  ?  2.  What  remarkable 
.      Indians  ?    3.  What  Island  did  he  touch  at  ? 


212  QUESTIONS. 

Page  114-  Sec-  4,  5.  .What  took  place  there  ?  6.  What  of  the 
female  cacique  and  Caonabo  1  7,8.  What  of  the  fate  of  Cao- 
nabo  ? 

Page  115.  Sec.  9.  What  happened  in  the  return  voyage?  10. 
What  of  the  crew  when  landing  at  Cadiz  ?  12.  What  was  the 
appearance  of  Columbus  1  13.  His  reception  by  the  sovereigns'? 

Page  116-  Sec.  15.  What  ships  did  he  ask?  16-  What  caused 
delay?  18.  What  new  arrangements  were  made  with  Colum 
bus?  What  title  did  he  prefer? 

Page  117.  Sec.  21.  What  arrangements  for  the  colony?  23. 
What  did  Columbus  propose  with  respect  to  criminals?  24. 
What  delays  did  he  experience  ?  From  whom  ?  27.  Who 
treated  him  with  insolence?  How  did  he  bear  it  1  What  was 
his  message  to  the  sovereigns  on  the  subject? 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Page  118.    Sec.  1.   Why  did  Columbus  change  his  route  in  the 

third  voyage? 
Page  119.     Sec.  2.  What  had  he  heard  of  main  land  in  the  south : 

and  its  inhabitants  ?    3,  4-  What  route  did  he  take  ?    5,  6,  7. 

What  weather  did  he  experience  ? 
Page  120.     Sec.  8.  What  island  did  he  discover  ?     9.  What  part 

of  the  main  land  ?     10.  AVhat  gulf  did  he  explore  ? 
Page  121.  Sec.  14.  What  did  he  conclude  from  the  vast  body  of 

fresh  water  running  into  the  sea  ?     15.  What  did  he  infer  as  to 

the  shape  of  the  earth  ?  16.  What  as  to  the  terrestial  paradise? 

18,  19.  Why  did  he  hasten  for  Hispaniola?     20.  What  strait  did  '- 

he  pass  through?    21.  At  what  part  of  Hispaniola  did  he 

arrive  ? 

CHAPTER  XXX 

Page  123.  Sec.  1,  2.  What  fortress  did  the  Adelantado  build? 
3,  4.  Who  was  Behechio  ?  What  of  Xaragua?  5.  Who  was 
Anacaono  ? 

Page  124.  Sec-  7,  8.  Describe  the  reception  of  Don  Bartholo 
mew  by  Anacaona.  9.  His  entertainment  at  Xaragua.  10. 
What  was  the  state  of  the  settlement  ? 

page  125.  Sec.  11.  What  cacique  rebelled  in  the  vega  ?  12.  13. 
The  mode  off-ending  a  letter?  14-  The  Adelantado's  measures 
with  the  rebels?  15.  Effect  of  his  clemency  on  Giiarionex? 

Page  126-  Sec.  16.  What  tribute  did  he  receive  at  Xaragua  ? 
18,  19.  Describe  the  arrival  of  the  caravel.  20,  21-  Who  was 
Roldan  ? 

Page  127.  Sec.  22,  23.  His  intrigues  ?  24.  His  proposition  re- 
specting  the  caravel  ?  25.  What  did  Don  Diego  with  Roldan  i 


Page  128^     Sec-  26-  Intrigues  of  Roldan  among  the  caciques  ? 
7.  How  did  he  act  at  the  public  stores  ?    28-  His  attempt  on 


27. 


QUESTIONS.  213 

Fort  Conception  ?    30.  What  was  the  state  of  the  island  1    31. 

Who  arrives  from  Spain  ?     The  consequences'? 
Page  129.    Sec.  32,  33.  What  occurred  between  Roldan  and  Co- 

ronaH    35.  What  of  Roldan  and  Xaragua  ? 
Page  130.    Sec.  36.  What  of  Guarionex  and  Mayonebex  1    38. 

Relate  the  expedition  of  the  Adelantado. 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Page  131.     Sec.  1.  What  did  Columbus  on  his  arrival  ? 

Page  132-  Sec-  2.  What  ships  arrived  at  Xaragua  ?  What 
stratagem  did  Roldan  use  1  3.  What  did  Carvajal  do  ?  4. 
What  effect  had  his  representations?  5.  What  did  Columbus 
offer  1  How  was  his  offer  treated  ?  6.  What  of  the  muster  at 
San  Domingo? 

Page  133.  Sec.  7.  What  did  Columbus  write  by  the  ships  ?  8. 
What  measures  did  Columbus  then  pursue  with  the  rebels  ?  9. 
How  did  the  rebels  behave  ?  10.  What  kind  of  letter  was  re 
ceived  from  Fonseca  ?  11.  Its  effect  t 

Page  134.  Sec.  12,  13.  The  situation  of  Columbus?  14.  What 
capitulations  did  he  make  7  15.  What  are  repartimientos'?  16. 
Who  embarked  in  the  caravels  ?  What  did  they  take  witn 
them  ?  17.  What  were  Roldan's  terms  for  himself?  18.  What 
of  Pedro  Reguelme  7 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Page  135.  Sec.  1.  Who  arrived  at  Hispaniola  ?  2.  Who  was  sent 
against  him  ?  3,  4.  What  took  place  between  them  7 

Page  136.  Sec.  5,  6.  What  induced  Ojeda  to  make  a  voyage  ? 
Who  gave  him  a  license?  7.  Who  sailed  with  him?  8.  De 
scribe  Ojeda's  voyage.  9, 10.  What  took  place  on  the  coast 
of  Xaragua  ? 

Page  137.  Sec.  11.  What  did  Roldan's  followers  require  ?  13, 
14, 15.  Relate  the  story  of  Guevara  and  the  Indian  beauty. 

Page  138.  Sec.  16.  The  plot  against  Roldan.  17.  The  plot  of 
Moxica.  18.  How  did  Columbus  act  ?  19,  20,  Relate  the  death 
of  Moxica. 

Page  139.  Sec.  21.  What  followed  7  What  did  Columbus  look 
forward  to  ? 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Page  139.  Sec.  1,  2.  What  slanders  were  circulated  against 
Columbus  at  court? 

Page  140.  Sec.  8.  How  was  the  king  set  against  him?  4.  What 
took  place  at  the  Alhambra?  5.  VVhat  were  the  doubts  of  Isa 
bella?  6.  What  was  the  determination  of  Ferdinand?  7. 
Who  arrived  in  the  two  caravels  ?  What  of  the  Indian  slaves  ? 

Page  141.    Sec.  8,  9.  What  said  Isabella  ?    How  did  she  act? 


214  QUESTIONS. 

]0.  Who  was  Bobadilla?  His  character  ?  11.  What  din*  he 
hear  on  his  arrival  ?  12.  What  of  the  rebels  ?  Who  were  in 
prison  ? 

Page  142.  Sec.  13.  How  did  the  public  act  ?  14.  What  were 
the  first  measures  of  Bobadilla?  15,  16,  17.  What  passed  be 
tween  him  and  Don  Dies^o  ? 

Page  143.  Sec.  18,  19.  What  occurred  at  the  fort?  20.  How 
did  Bobadilla  act  with  respect  to  Columbus?  21.  What  license 
did  he  grant  to  the  people  ? 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Page  143.  Seel.  What  did  Columbus  write  to  Bobadilla?  2. 
How  did  Bobadilla  reply?  3.  What  rumour  prevailed  con 
cerning  Columbus  ?  4.  How  did  Columbus  act  on  receiving  the 
letter  of  the  sovereigns  ?  How  was  he  treated  on  his  arrival  at 
San  Domingo?  5,  6,  7.  Wjio  put  him  in  irons?  How  did  he 
conduct  himself? 

Page  145.  Sec.  8.  What  did  he  write  to  Don  Bartholomew  ? 
"The  effect?  9.  How  were  the  brothers  treated  1  10,  11,  12. 
The  state  of  San  Domingo  ?  Of  the  rebels  ? 

Page  148.  Sec.  13.  What  did  Bobadilla  determine?  14,  15, 16. 
Describe  the  scene  with  Villejo.  17.  Describe  the  departure  of 
Columbus. 

Page  147.  Sec.  18.  His  treatment  on  his  voyage  ?  19.  His  re 
ply  about  his  chains  ?  20.  What  said  his  son  respecting  them  ? 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 
Page  147.     Sec.  1.  The  effect  of  his  arrival  at  Cadiz  1    2.  His 

letter  to  the  queen  1     Its  effect  ? 
Page  148      Sec-  3-  What  orders  were  issued  by  the  sovereigns  ? 

4,  5,  6.  Describe  the  interview  of  Columbus  with  the  sovereigns. 

7.  What  did  they  promise  ?     8.  Did  Ferdinand  reinstate  him  1 
Page.  149.     Sec.  9,  10,  11.  His  real  reasons  for  not  doing  sot  12. 

13.  His  alleged  reasons'? 
Page  150.     Sec.  14, 15.  Who  was  Ovando?     His  character  ?  16, 

17,  18.  What,  were  the  errors  of  Bobadilla?     His  treatment  of 

the  natives'?     His  exhortation  to  the  colonists  1 
Page  151.  Sec.  20,  21,  22.  The  conduct  of  the  colonists  towards 

the  natives'?     23.  What  instructions  were  given   to  Ovando  1 

24.  How  were  the  affairs  of  Columbus  to  be  taken  care  of? 
Page  152.     Sec.  25.  What  of  negro  slavery  ?  26,  27.  What  of  the 

fleet  and  retinue  of  Ovando  ? 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Page  152.     Sec.  1,  2.  What  vow  did  Columbus  call  to  mind  ? 

Page  153.  Sec.  3.  What  volume  did  he  arrange  ?  4.  What  letter 
did  he  write  to  the  sovereigns  ?  5,  6.  What  of  Vasco  de  Gama 
and  his  discoveries  ?  7,  8.  What  strait  did  Columbus  expect  to 
discover  ? 


QUESTIONS.  215 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Page  15-4.  Sec.  1.  The  age  and  health  of  Columbus.  2.  Who 
accompanied  him  on  his  voyage?  3.  What  was  his  armament  ? 
4.  Why  did  he  touch  at  Hispaniola  1  5.  The  state  of  that  place 
on  his  arrival?  7,  8.  What  did  he  request  of  Ovando  ? 

Page  156.  Sec  9, 10, 11.  The  circumstances  of  the  storm  ?  12, 13. 
The  fate  of  Columbus'  enemies?  14-  The  opinions  of  his  son 
and  of  Las  Casas  in  the  matter? 

Page  157-  Sec-  15,  16  The  notions  of  the  seamen-  17,  18- What 
of  the  Indian  canoe  at  Guanaga  ?  19-  What  if  Columbus  had 
steered  for  Yucatan  7 

Page  158-  Sec  20 — 24-  What  of  his  voyage  along  the  coast?  25- 
The  anecdote  of  the  notary? 

Page  159-  Sec- 26  What  were  the  superstitions  of  the  sailors? 
27.  What  did  Columbus  find  at  Veragua  ?  28,29  What  were  the 
rumours  of  Mexico"?  30  Conduct  of  the  natives  along  this 
coast.  31-  Where  did  Columbus  give  up  his  eearch  after  the 
strait  ?  and  why  ? 

CHAPTER  XXXVHI. 

Page  160.     Sec.  1,  2,  3.   What  of  the  weather?     Of  the  water 

spout  ? 
Page  161.     Sec-  4-  What  charm  did  the  sailors  use?     5.  What 

were  their  notions  concerning  sharks?     6.  In  what  river  did 

they  anchor  ?     7.  What  did  the  Adelantado  ?     8.  Who  was 

Quibian?    The  interview  with  him? 
Page  162.    Sec.  9.  What  did  the  Adelantado  find  in  the  interior? 

10.  What  were  the  ideas  of  Columbus  respecting  the  coast? 

11,  12.  His  plan  of  founding  a  colony?     13.  What  preve.ted 
his  sailing  ? 

Page  163.  'Sec.  14,  15.  Who  was  Diego  Mendez  ?  How  did  he 
discover  the  plot  of  Quibian?  17.  Describe  the  expedi.ion 
against  Quibian. 

Page  164.     Sec.  21.  What  of  Juan  Sanchez  and  Quibian  ? 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

Page  164.     Sec.  1.  Where  did  Columbus  anchor? 

Page  165.    Sec.  2,  3.  What  of  Quibian  and  his  assault  ?     4.  Wow 

did  the  Adelantado  act?     5,  6.  What  of  Diego  Tristan?     His 

fate  ? 
Page  166.    Sec.  7,  8.  The  state  of  the  Spaniards  on  shore?  9, 10. 

Their  measures  for  defence  ?     11.  State  of  the  ships  ? 
Page  167.     Sec.  12.  What  did  the  Indian  prisoners?     13.  What 

of  Pedro  Ledesma?     14.  What  news  did  he  bring  from  shore? 

15,  16.  What  was  the  state  of  mind  of  Columbus? 
Page  168.     Sec.  17, 18,  19.  Relate  his  vision.    20.  Was  it  real  or 

imaginary  ?    23.  His  embarkation. 


216  QUESTIONS. 

CHAPTER  XL. 

Page  169.  Sec.  1,  2.  What  was  the  route  of  Columbus  to  Ja 
maica?  3.  Where  did  he  anchor  ?  4.  What  did  he  do  with 
his  ships  ? 

Pa°;e  170.  Sec.  5.  What  regulations  did  he  make?  6.  How 
did  Diego  Mendez  procure  supplies  1  7 — 11.  State  the  conver 
sation  of  Columbus  with  Mendez. 

Page  171.  Sec.  12.  What  said  Mendez  before  the  crew?  13. 
Describe  his  preparations  for  a  voyage. 

Page  172-  Sec.  14,  15,  16.  What  letter  did  Columbus  write? 
17,  18.  Describe  the  adventures  of  Mendez.  19.  Who  went 
with  him  the  second  time? 

Page  173.  Sec-  20.  The  plan  of  the  voyage  ?  21.  What  did  the 
Adelantado  ? 

CHAPTER  XL1. 

Page  173.    Sec.  1,  2.  Describe  the  look  out  for  the  canoe  of  Fi- 

esco.     The  anxieties  of  the  Spaniards. 
Page  174.     Sec.  3.  Who  were  Francisco  and  Diego  Porras  ?    4. 

What  were  their  slanders  of  Columbus  ?  5.  The  scene  between 

Porras  and  the  admiral  ?  6.  What  did  the  mutineers  ?  7.  What 

did  the  Adelantado  ?  8.  Describe  the  departure  of  the  mutineers. 
Page  175.     Sec.  9,  10,  11.  Their  attempted  voyage.    12.  Their 

conduct  on  shore. 
Page  176-    Sec.  13.  How  did  Columbus  act  after  their  departure  ? 

14.  What  was  the  conduct  of  the  natives  ?  15-  Relate  the  story 

of  the  eclipse. 

CHAPTER  XLIl. 

Page  177.    Sec.  1,  2.  Who  arrived  at  the  harbour? 

Page  178.  Sec.  3.  What  letter  did  he  bring?  4.  What  was  his 
conduct  ?  What  letter  did  Columbus  write  ?  5-  What  did  Co 
lumbus  think  of  the  visit  of  Escobar?  6.  How  did  he  act  to 
wards  the  rebels  ?  7.  What  terms  were  demanded  by  Porras  ? 

Page  179.  Sec.  8, 9.  What  falsehood  did  he  tell  ?  10.  What  at 
tempt  did  he  make  upon  the  harbour?  It.  What  did  the  Ad 
elantado?  12,  13.  What  said  Porras  about  his  opponents? 

Page  J80.  Sec.  14.  Describe  the  circumstances  of  the  battle. 
Who  fought  with  the  Adelantado  ?  How  was  Porras  treated? 
What  was  done  to  his  followers  ? 

CHAPTER  XLIII. 

Page  181.     Sec.  1.  Describe  the  voyage  of  Mendez  and  Fiesco. 

What  did  they  most  suffer  from  ? 
Page  182.  Sec.  7.  At  what  small  island  did  they  touch  ?  8-  Where 

did  they  land  in  Hispaniola? 


QUESTIONS.  217 

Page  183.  Sec.  9.  Where  did  Mendez  go?  JO.  What  was  his 
success  with  Ovaud  >  ?  12,  13.  What  relief  sailed  for  Jamaica? 

Page  184.  Sec.  14.  Describe  the  embarkation,  15.  The  recep 
tion  of  Columbus  at  San  Domingo.  16.  What  differences  oc 
curred  between  him  and  Ovando  ? 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 

Page  185.   Sec.  1, 2.  What  adventurers  embarked  with  Ovando  ? 

3,  4.  Describe  the  pcene  at  the  mines. 
Page  186.     Sec.  5.  What  was  the  fate  of  the  gol<?  hunters  ?  6,  7. 

What  was  the  policy  of  Ovando  towards  the  natives  ?    8,  9, 10. 

What  were  its  effects  ? 
Page  187.    Seo.  11.  What  of  the  province  of  Higuey  and  its  ca- 

cifjue?    How  did  he  invade  Xaragua?    14.  How  was  he  re 
ceived  by  Anacaona. 
Page  188.     Sec,  J5,  16.  What  stratagem  did  Ovando  practise? 

Relate  the  massacre.     17.  What  was  the  fate  of  Anacaona  ? 

18.  What  the  fate  of  her  province? 
Page  189.    Sec.  21.  What  had  been  the  intention  of  Columbus 

with  respect  to  the  natives?    22.  What  of  the  five  tribes  and 

their  princes?    23.  What  did  Columbus  write  on  the  subject? 

24.  What  was  the  state  of  his  own  affairs  ?    25-  What  did  he 

QO  with  his  crews? 
Page  190*  Sec.  26.  State  his  voyage  and  arrival  in  Spain. 

CHAPTER  XLV. 

Page  190.  Sec?  1.  What  detained  Columbus  at  Seville  ?  2.  Wiiat 
was  the  state  of  his  finances?  3.  What  did  he  write  U  hi» 
son  Diego  ? 

Page  191.  Sec.  4-  How  were  his  letters  to  the  sovereigns  seat 
ed  ?  5.  Who  was  injuring  him  at  court?  6.  On  whom  tiid  i,e 
relv  for  redress?  7,  8,  9.  What  had  undermined  the  health  of 
Isabella? 

Page  192.  Sec.  10  Describe  her  decline  and  death.  11.  What 
aid  she  enjoin  in  her  will  ?  12,  13.  Her  character.  Her  influ 
ence  over  the  affairs  of  the  new  world  ?  1 1  15,  16.  How  did 
Columbus  receive  the  news  of  her  death  ?  W  hat  did  lie  write 
to  his  son  on  the  subject? 

Page  193.  Sec.  17, 18.  Repeat  his  exhortation  to  brotherfv  afiec- 
tion.  19.  How  did  he  enter  the  gates  of  Segovia?  20.  -How 
was  he  received  at  conn*.' 

Page  194.  Sec.  21 .  What  did  he  petition  of  the  king  ?  22.  What 
did  he  say  as  to  his  own  claims?  23.  What  did  the  kinsj  offer 
him?  How  did  Columbus  treat  his  offer?  24.  What  did  Co- 
lumhttft  write  to  a  friend  ? 

Ptge  195.  Sec.  25.  What  event  gave  him  new  ho  pen  ?  20,  27 
What  metfsage  did  he  send  to  King  Philio  '*  28.  How  was  the 


218  QUESTIONS. 

Adelantado  received  ?    30.  Whom  did  Columbus  constitute  his 
heir?    Whom  else  did  he  provide  for? 

Page  196.  Sec.  31.  For  what  purpose  did  lie  enjoin  a  deposit  in 
the  bank  at  Genoa?  What  other  provisions  dia  he  make  ?  32. 
When  did  he  die  ?  How  oid  was  he  at  the  time  of  his  death  1 

CHAPTER  XL VI. 

Page  196.  Sec.  1.  What  was  the  natuieof  his  genius?  His  ana 
bition?  2.  What  was  his  use  of  riches?  3.  Why  did  he  value 
rank  ?  What  title  did  lie  most  prize  ?  and  why  ? 

Page  197.  Sec.  4-  How  did  he  conduct  as  a  discoverer?  5. 
What  was  his  temper  ?  How  did  he  govern  it  ?  6.  How  did 
he  act  towards  his  enemies?  7.  How  were  his  religious 
feelings  ? 

Page  198.  Sec.  8.  What  were  his  religious  observances  1  9 
What  mingled  with  his  piety  ?  10.  What  was  his  error  on  the 
subject  of  slavery  ?  11.  What  may  be  said  in  palliation  of  it? 

Page  199.  Sec,  13.  What  of  his  imagination?  14-  What  specu 
lations  did  it  produce?  15-  Its  effect  on  his  meditations?  1(\ 
17.  Its  effect  upon  his  conclusions  and  plans? 

Page  200.    Sec.  18.  In  what  error  did  Columbus  die  ? 


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